Dental Crown Procedure: Step-by-Step, What to Expect
Have you ever experienced a sore tooth, or a tooth that seemed broken, or a weak tooth? There are occasions when our teeth require additional assistance in order to be strong and healthy. A dental crown will help in that.
A tooth crown is a miniature hat. It keeps your tooth safe, makes it healthier, and even makes your tooth look good. Dentists use crowns on the teeth that contain cavities, cracks, or require assistance following a root canal.
In this guide, we will discuss in detail how a dental crown works step by step, not only on how to prepare a tooth, but also on how to wear a temporary crown, and lastly, how to get your permanent crown. At the next stage, you will become aware of what to expect and prepare to visit a dentist.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a small tooth hat or a tooth cap that dentists use. Dentists also use crowns to cover weak, cracked, or broken teeth, make them strong, and even make them look nice. It is a method for you to put your tooth to good use.
Dentists can make crowns from different materials, depending on what your tooth needs and how you want it to look:
- Ceramic or porcelain: This type looks just like a real tooth. It is white and blends in with your other teeth.
- Metal: Very strong and long-lasting, but it is shiny like metal, not white like a tooth.
- Zirconia: Very strong and also looks natural, so it is both tough and pretty.
- Porcelain with metal: This crown has a metal base for strength and a white tooth-colored layer on top so it looks natural.
No matter which type you get, a crown protects your tooth, helps you chew better, and makes your smile look great. It’s also important to keep the tooth decay under the crown clean, because decay can sometimes happen under a crown, which can appear as a dark spot.
Why Do You Need a Crown?
Our teeth sometimes weaken, crack, or develop huge holes that a normal filling cannot repair.Once this occurs, a dental crown can safeguard the tooth to enable it to work well.A dentist may require a crown when your tooth breaks, wears out, or is weak, or when you have a root canal and the tooth needs extra strength.Dentists also treat dental implants with crowns to replace missing teeth or even to address discolored, chipped, or irregularly shaped teeth.
Step-by-Step Dental Crown Procedure
Getting a dental crown is a careful process, but it’s not scary. Here’s what usually happens during a dental crown procedure, step by step.
Step 1: Check-Up and X-Rays
First, the dentist examines your tooth and takes X-rays. This helps them see if your tooth is strong enough for a crown and if the roots and surrounding bone are healthy. This step ensures that your tooth is ready for the next steps.
Step 2: Numbing and Tooth Preparation
Then the dentist injects your tooth to numb it, and you will not feel the pain. They trim your tooth, then, so carefully, to create room in it. In the event of missing a considerable portion of the tooth, the dentist can include some filling substance to fill it up to the level of being solid enough to support the crown.
Step 3: Taking an Impression or Scan
Once the dentist prepares the tooth, they take the mold of your tooth, or they use a digital scanner. This creates a perfect replica of your tooth and the rest of your teeth. The lab receives the image of the mold or scan so that the permanent crown fits perfectly and your bite feels natural.
Step 4: Temporary Crown
While the permanent crown is being made, the dentist puts a temporary crown on your tooth. This crown protects your tooth and allows you to eat normally until your real crown is ready. To care for a temporary crown, avoid sticky or hard foods and brush gently around it to keep it safe. Following a proper cleaning routine, like the one described in our step-by-step dental cleaning guide, can help prevent problems while your permanent crown is being made.
Step 5: Making the Permanent Crown
In the dental lab, a technician puts your scan or mold into a custom crown. There are special machines in some dental offices that can prepare a crown in one day only, and hence, there is no need to wait.
Step 6: Placing the Permanent Crown
The dentist takes off the temporary crown as soon as your temporary crown is ready. They test the color, shape, and fit to ensure that it feels and appears correct. Thereafter, they paste the crown on your tooth. Once you have done this, your tooth becomes tough, appears natural, and functions best.
After Getting a Crown
After your crown is placed, it’s normal for your tooth to feel a little sensitive to hot or cold for a few days. Your gums around the tooth may also feel a bit sore at first.
Taking care of your new crown is important. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss carefully around the crowned tooth to keep it clean. Try to avoid chewing hard foods like ice or very sticky candies, as these can damage the crown. Following these habits can also help prevent dental problems in your other teeth. Regular dental checkups will make sure your crown and your smile stay healthy.
With proper care, a crown can last 5 to 15 years or even longer, keeping your tooth strong and your smile looking great.
Conclusion
A dental crown is a hard covering that safeguards a fragile or compromised tooth and makes your face appear attractive.The dental crown is non-complicated and painless.The dentist first examines and prepares your tooth, then you can receive a temporary crown, and lastly, the dentist will install the permanent crown.
Crowns are significant to take care of. Clean your teeth, use the floss, and see your dentist regularly. Your crown will take many years with good treatment, and it will allow you to gnash easily and smile with ease.
Care at 65 Broadway Dental
At 65 Broadway Dental, we ensure that our team well-maintains your dentures to keep your teeth healthy and strong.We embrace a philosophy of soft full service, including the crown procedure and regular follow-ups.We design the plan to suit your needs and comfort, ensuring that we maintain your crown longer and keep your smile beautiful.With our help, you can smile, talk, and chew every day.
FAQs
1. Does getting a dental crown hurt during the procedure
No, the dentist will administer a numbing injection, hence you will not experience pain whilst having the tooth prepared. You will experience some pressure and vibration, although not painful. Slight pain following the treatment is common, and it usually subsides within several days.
2. How long does it take to get a dental crown from start to finish?
It normally requires 1-3 weeks in case the crown is prepared at a dental lab. At some dental offices, there are special machines capable of creating a crown in one day, meaning that you do not have to have a temporary crown for long.
3. Can I eat normally after getting a dental crown placed on my tooth?
Yes, once you have your crown on, you can eat like ordinary people. Initially, one should not consume very sticky, chewy, and hard foods that may loosen or damage the crown. With time, you are able to comfortably chew most foods.
4. How should I take care of my dental crown to make it last longer?
Brush your teeth twice a day and floss carefully around the crowned tooth. Visiting your dentist for regular checkups helps keep both your crown and the tooth underneath healthy. Proper care can make your crown last for many years.
5. How long do dental crowns usually last?
When well-maintained, dental crowns may last up to 5-15 years and even more. Chewing on hard substances such as ice, sticky candies should also be avoided, and good oral hygiene should be upheld to ensure that your crown and natural tooth are healthy.
6. What if my dental crown feels too high?
A crown can sometimes be too thick or too high, so that you feel that there is something in your mouth. This is natural, and your dentist can make it so that you can bite naturally and comfortably.
7. Can a tooth with a dental crown still get a cavity?
The crown itself is unable to get a hole as it is of hard material. Nevertheless, a tooth under the crown may still rot, and thus it is of high importance to brush, floss, and visit your dentist on a regular basis.
8. Will my dental crown look natural and match my other teeth?
Yes! Dental crowns are done to suit the color, shape, and size of your natural teeth. The dentist will ensure that the crown fits in perfectly to make it look exactly like your other teeth.
9. Can a dental crown be placed on any tooth in my mouth?
Crowns can be placed on most teeth, but your dentist will check if your tooth is strong enough to hold a crown. Sometimes extra treatment, like a filling or root canal, may be needed before placing the crown.
Dr. Alexander Heifitz (Author)
Dr. Alexander Heifitz is the founder of 65 Broadway Dental in NYC, where he combines advanced dental expertise with a patient-first approach. He specializes in cosmetic and restorative treatments such as dental implants, veneers, Invisalign, and smile makeovers, helping New Yorkers achieve both oral health and confidence.
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