Has your tooth sustained damage? Your dentist may want to restore the structure and appearance of your tooth using a dental crown. Though you may require this fixture to alleviate pain and discomfort occurring in your vulnerable tooth, you may also feel nervous about undergoing dental work.
You can feel more at ease with your dentist when you know more about what will occur during your dental procedure ahead of your visit. Read on to learn more about each step of the dental process to receive a crown over your tooth.
How Do Dentists Treat Teeth with Dental Crowns?
Evaluating Oral Health
Before your dentist gives you a dental crown, they will evaluate the affected tooth and provide any necessary treatment. In many cases, crowns are part of a larger restorative treatment plan.
The dentist will need to drill away decay, complete root canal therapy, or otherwise heal a damaged tooth before proceeding to restore the structure of the tooth with a dental crown. They will also make sure that a crown is the best fixture to treat the tooth before pursuing the treatment.
Preparing Tooth Enamel
If you and your dentist determine that a dental crown will work best with your smile, the dentist will need to prepare the tooth for this treatment. This involves scraping away a small amount of tooth enamel to make room for the ceramic cap.
They will give you a local anesthetic to ensure you feel no discomfort during this procedure. The enamel cannot regrow, so crowns will need to be a permanent restorative dental solution. The crown will serve as a replacement for the thinned enamel.
Taking Dental Impressions
Once the surface of the tooth is ready, your dentist will take impressions of your smile within this same appointment. This can be done with a physical mold or digital imaging technology.
The dentist will use this precise image of your tooth to build a customized dental crown. This ensures a comfortable and secure fit that will also look beautiful with the rest of your smile.
It may take several weeks to construct the crown in the dental lab. During this time, your dentist can give you a temporary crown to fit over the affected tooth. Follow your dentist’s care guidelines to ensure that you do not break or dislodge the fixture in the meantime.
Securing the Cap Over the Tooth
Your dentist will ask you to return to their office once the crown has been made. They will then secure this permanent crown over your tooth. The crown seals into place using specialized dental cement.
The dentist will polish the crown for a gorgeous finish. They will also check your bite before you leave to ensure that the cap does not interfere with your oral function.
The durable material and the security of the cement will allow the crown to remain fixed over the tooth for fifteen years or more. Take proper care of the crown for optimal results.