If you have teeth that are severely damaged and decayed, dental crowns may be the only option available to preserve them. A crown consists of a cap that is placed over a prepared tooth and cemented permanently in place. The cap is shaped like a tooth to blend in with the others, providing strength, protection, and improved function.
If you had never had crowns before, it is a good idea to ask questions of your dentist about them so you know what to expect.
Crowns can be made from a range of materials. The earliest were made of metal. Chromium, nickel, palladium, and gold are still common materials for crowns today. Metal crowns offer advantages such as affordability and durability, but they stand out from the other teeth. Crowns can also be made of tooth-colored materials, such as ceramics that include porcelain and zirconia. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns offer the advantages of metal with a natural-looking, tooth-colored covering.
Placing a crown usually requires two appointments at the dentist's office. At the first visit, impressions of the teeth are taken to collect data that will be sent to the lab and used to create the crown. Impressions are taken of the tooth receiving the treatment plus the surrounding teeth, upper and lower. Physical impressions may be taken by biting down into soft, gel-like materials, or a digital scan of the teeth may be taken. Two impressions are required: One of the teeth before any treatment begins and another after the tooth has been prepared.
A numbing agent is used to prevent you from feeling anything during the procedure. The tooth is then prepared to receive the crown. This involves removing damaged material and shaping the remaining tooth so that the crown fits over it without crowding the other teeth in the mouth. Shaping sometimes means adding to the remaining tooth to build it up.
Once the tooth is prepared and the impressions are taken, a temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth until it the permanent crown is ready. It takes a week or two for the lab to craft and returns the new crown, after which you need another appointment to fit it and cement it in place.
The success rate of treatment with dental crowns is very high. By restoring the teeth, they offer relief from severe pain and peace of mind that the tooth will not sustain any further damage. Depending on the material used, they look natural and last for decades.
However, following the procedure, you may experience a short period of discomfort. If you choose a metal crown, you may have an allergic reaction. The changes made to the tooth to prepare it for a crown are irreversible.
Once a crown is in place, there is not much that needs to change in terms of everyday dental care. Keep brushing at least twice a day to control plaque and bacterial buildup and floss daily to lower your risks for tooth decay and gum disease. See your dentist on a regular basis for professional cleanings and checkups.
You may want to make some dietary changes following the procedure, especially for the first few days after treatment. Foods that are extremely hot or cold can cause sensitivity issues and hard foods may be difficult and painful to chew. Once the crown has had a few days to set and any discomfort from the procedure subsides, you can resume a normal diet. However, dentists recommend limiting or avoiding foods that could potentially damage or dislodge a crown, such as:
If you do eat these types of foods, do so sparingly and try to chew on the opposite side of your crown to minimize pressure and potential damage. Cutting foods into more manageable pieces can also be beneficial.
Before having dental crowns placed, it is a good idea to find out what will happen. You can learn all about the procedure by asking the right questions to your dentist. They can help you understand what to expect and determine whether or not this is the right treatment approach for you.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Checkup in Miami, FL.
Request an appointment here: https://www.mariavaldesgarcia.com or call South Florida Dentistry at (305) 203-4097 for an appointment in our Miami office.
Looking for information on preventive dentistry? Read on to learn more. A good preventive dentist can save you money on significant tooth problems, pain, and costly treatments in the future. All treatments or procedures that prevent tooth decay, tooth damage, and gum disease fall under preventive dentistry. Fortunately, when preventive dentistry is incorporated into daily…
Preventive dentistry can help you avoid issues like tooth decay and gum disease, which are the most common issues that dentists deal with. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy starts with having a consistent oral hygiene routine.Many of the dental issues that you might find yourself dealing with start with the bacteria in your mouth.…
For healthy teeth and gums, routine dental care is necessary. For most healthy people, two times a year is the recommended frequency for dentist appointments. This is typically adequate for deeper cleaning and preventive care. However, for some patients, more frequent appointments are necessary to manage certain issues and to prevent problems from becoming more…
Maintaining routine dental care is important for oral and overall health, but many patients have questions about what it consists of beyond daily brushing and flossing. The right answers can help patients of any age understand the importance of providing optimum care for their teeth and the possible issues if they fail to follow through.…
In orthodontics, clear aligners are gaining popularity at dental offices everywhere. People enjoy this approach…
If you are thinking about clear aligners as a way to fix your crooked teeth,…
Going to a cosmetic dentist is the first step in changing a patient’s smile to…
There are many benefits to choosing clear aligners for your orthodontic treatment. But it is…
Talk to your child about the dentist, let them ask questions, and help them understand…
Underbites are serious issues, but clear aligners can often fix them. If left untreated, underbites…
