Imagine having something slightly more complicated than a cavity, and its only solution is a dental crown . However, before you get too upset, consider that placement of a dental crown really isn’t that bad. In fact, it’s just one of the many things that cosmetic dentists do well.
What Does Crown Placement Involve?
Crowns are used to repair severely damaged teeth that are cracked, chipped, or otherwise broken.
Obtaining a crown means you’ll need two dental visits. During the first visit, your dentist will examine your tooth and ready it for the crown. The second visit centers on crown placement.
Visit one will involve x-rays of the affected tooth and gum to determine the extent of decay. Sometimes a crown may not be sufficient. In this case you will typically receive another procedure, the dreaded root canal. If a crown is indeed your solution, your dentist will begin by filing away the tooth’s decayed portion.
Next, your dentist will create an impression of the tooth using paste or putty. They will provide a protective temporary crown for use while your permanent crown is fashioned, a process that typically takes two to three weeks. These days, crowns are usually made out of porcelain. Porcelain resembles the texture and the color of natural teeth and is built to last a long time. However, this isn’t the only type of crown. The most frequently used materials for dental crowns are:
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal
- All-porcelain
- Gold
During visit two, your dentist will place your permanent crown.
Waiting for Your Permanent Crown
During the waiting period, go easy on your temporary crown:
- Don’t floss your teeth in an upward motion – move side-to-side instead.
- Avoid “sticky” foods, such as gum and caramel.
- Avoid chewing hard foods, such as raw carrots.
- Chew mainly on the side of your mouth without the crown.
Problems
Once your permanent crown is placed, difficulties occasionally follow, both immediate and longer term. Most are easily remedied. Typical issues include:
· Sensitivity to hot and cold – A toothpaste for sensitive teeth may be recommended
· Pain from a too-high bite – This can be rapidly corrected at your dentist’s office
· Chipped crown – A composite resin can sometimes easily repair a chipped crown depending on the extent of the chip
· Crown falls off – Take good care of the loose crown; your dentist may be able to reseat it
· Allergic reaction to crown – Very rarely, patients allergic to the porcelain or metal used to make the crown
With good dental hygiene and lack of excessive wear from tooth-grinding, ice-chewing, or other things, a crown should last between five and 15 years.
