Crowns
A crown (also called a cap) is an artificial cover that fits over the damaged visible part of a tooth.
Crowns are used to restore and preserve teeth that are decayed, chipped, broken, or cracked. Crowns can also be used cosmetically to enhance
the appearance of teeth. It may also be recommended for a bite problem.
A crown can be made of gold, other metals, or porcelain. In constructing a crown, the combination of materials
that provides the most satisfying results is porcelain fused to metal (either gold or nonprecious). The metal
provides strength, and the porcelain, strength and beauty.
Assessing your teeth
Before placing a crown, your dentist will need to examine your teeth. This will be similar to a regular dental checkup,
but with some additional areas of focus, such as:
- If other dental work is needed first, such as treating decayed teeth or periodontal disease.
- How your upper and lower teeth relate to each other.
- Getting x-rays to check the inside of your teeth and jaws.
The procedure
It usually takes two or three appointments for your crown to be placed. There will also be a two to three week wait
between visits.
Getting your tooth ready
Since a crown must fit over your own tooth, the latter needs to be made smaller. First, your tooth may be numbed.
Then your dentist uses an instrument to trim your tooth to the right size and shape. Any decay is removed. If large parts are missing,
the tooth is rebuilt to the required shape for the crown. An impression (mold) is taken of the reshaped tooth and neighboring teeth.
You’ll receive a temporary crown to protect the prepared tooth until the next visit.
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Between visits
The mold of your teeth is sent to a lab where your permanent crown is made. It takes about two to three weeks for lab to make the crown.
During this time, protect your temporary crown and the prepared tooth by following these tips:
- Chew on the side away from the temporary crown as much as possible.
- Avoid sticky and hard foods.
- Brush the temporary crown gently.
- When flossing, pull the floss out from the side, not straight up or down, which can snag on the temporary crown and pull it off.
- If the temporary comes off, call your dentist’s office and ask whether to secure it back in place with the denture adhesive until you can visit the office.
Placing your crown
At your next visit, the dentist will place your crown. No anesthesia will be needed. The steps are as follows:
- The temporary crown is removed.
- The permanent crown is placed.
- Your bite is checked to ensure it feels normal.
- The crown is cemented into place.
Taking care of your crown
Once your crown is in place, take care of it just as you would any of your other teeth. This means daily brushing and flossing.
If you haven’t been taking care of your teeth as well as you should have been, now is a good time to start.
When to call your dentist
Call your dentist if any if the following occurs:
- The crowned tooth is painful or develops sensitivity to cold, hot foods, liquids or when you bite.
- The crown loosens, chips, or falls out.
- You have bleeding, swelling, redness or tenderness of the gum at the base of crowned tooth.
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