How Dentists Use A Dental Crown To Restore A Patient’s Smile

Many patients experience decay, damage, and injury in their teeth which affects the overall appearance of their teeth. If this is something that concerns you, then we might have a solution that will solve your dental problems. Dentists use a dental crown or cap to mimic the form and appearance of your natural teeth. 

Dental caps are used in cosmetic dentistry to enhance and restore your damaged or injured teeth. They improve the appearance of your teeth and restore their function. They also help in making your teeth alignment better since the dental caps cover the teeth gaps.

What should I expect from a dental crown procedure?

First Visit: Dental examination and preparation 

During your first visit for a dental crown in Aurora, your dentist will take an X-ray of your tooth and jawbone. He’ll use the result to examine your teeth for any signs of decay or other factors that may increase the risk of infection to the pulp of the tooth. A few cases may require the patients to undergo a root canal treatment before placing a crown on the treated tooth. The dentist will reshape the tooth to give the crown enough space once the dentist places it on top. The extent of reshaping depends on the type of dental crown procedure needed to treat the tooth. Since metal-based crowns are thin, they requires less reshaping compared to porcelain crowns.

For patients with severe damage or decay to the tooth, there won’t be any enough structure left to place the crown. If this is the case, the dentist will use a filling material to build up the structure of the tooth so the crown will have a stable foundation.

Once the dentist has shaped the tooth accordingly, he will then create an impression of the treated tooth. Doing so will help the dental laboratory to fabricate the crown that’ll fit well to the tooth. The dentist may also need to get an impression of the jaw that will connect to the crown whenever the patient bites. The impression guarantees that the implant fits correctly into the patient’s mouth.

Second Visit: Placing the permanent dental crown

The dentist will now send the impressions of the patient’s teeth to a dental laboratory or a dental technician to form the crown. It usually takes up to three weeks to complete. So, the patient must get back for his second visit for the placement of the dental crown.

The dentist will check both the fitting as well as the color of the crown to ensure that it matches the teeth. The dentist must check the match before he permanently places the crown.

The dentist applies a local anesthetic to numb the area during the dental crown procedure. Next, he’ll use dental cement to place the crown over the tooth permanently. There might be a few minor adjustments to the shape of the crown, mainly if there are any issues with the patient’s bite.

How do I protect my dental crown?

A dental crown commonly lasts for seven years. However, there are cases where they may last up to for decades if maintained properly. That’s why it’s essential to maintain good oral hygiene to keep your teeth and gums healthy. You should also avoid foods that easily stain your teeth or damage your dental crown entirely.

Regular visits to your dentist helps you to maintain your oral health as well as your dental crown procedure. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions, especially if it concerns your health. It’s always best to learn from the experts instead of relying on what you see on the internet.