The Process of Getting a Crown

There are a number of reasons you might need to have a dental crown placed. Perhaps you have an old filling that is cracked or damaged so badly it can’t be replaced, so covering the tooth with a crown is the only way to save it. Other reasons include having a week tooth that needs the strength of a crown to hold it together. You might need a bridge, and crowns are needed to hold it in place. In some cases you might need a crown for cosmetic reasons, such as to cover a tooth that is discolored.

Whatever the reason for the crown, process of getting a dental crown is fairly similar in all instances. Here is what you might expect.

Getting Your Dental Crown Placed

In general, you can expect to have two appointments with your dentist for crown placement. At the first appointment, once it is determined that your tooth can support a crown, preparations will begin to get the tooth ready for the crown. This includes filing down the tooth to leave enough room for a crown. Sometimes, if a tooth is damaged or broken, your dentist might need to fill it so that it is large enough to take on a crown.

After the tooth is prepared for the crown, your dentist will take an impression of the tooth being crowned as well as those around it. This impression will be sent to a dental lab; it is there they will make the permanent crown. In the meantime, you will be fitted with a temporary crown that will protect the prepared tooth until the final crown can be placed permanently.

Usually a week or two after this, your permanent crown will be ready. At your second dentist appointment, your practitioner will remove the temporary crown, then position the permanent crown. A special adhesive is used to ensure the crown is fastened securely.

After the Crown Is Placed

Once your dental crown procedure is complete, it may take some getting used to before the permanent crown feels normal in your mouth; however, after a little time has passed, the crown should look, function, and feel like a regular tooth. If you have any questions about your dental crowns in Bayport, be sure to talk to Dr. Filson or Dr. Hei at Filson Gentle Dentistry.