Dental Crown Procedure
Dental crowns at kingwood family & cosmetic dentistry are a great and natural-looking way to repair a tooth that has fractured or has decay that is too extensive for a simple filling. A lot of times, teeth that need root canal treatment are restored using dental crowns. Having a crown placed is quite simple, and oftentimes can be done in one visit!
If you did have root canal treatment, your dentist would want to restore the tooth a couple of weeks after completion of your root canal. This allows the tooth to calm down and ensures that you’re not in any pain before the placement of your new crown.
To begin, your dentist to apply a topical numbing agent before administering a local anesthetic. This ensures that you are numb and do not feel anything during the procedure. Once the anesthetic is in effect, your dentist will use a drill to remove any decay as well as a small amount of tooth enamel. Removing the enamel allows the dental crown to fit snugly over the infected tooth without being too tight and crowding adjacent teeth.
If your dentist uses a dental lab to fabricate your crown, they will take an impression and send it to the lab and have you come back two weeks later to have your crown placed. If your dentist has the technology to fabricate your crown in the office, your dentist will scan your tooth and mill your crown before placing it on your tooth.
Almost everyone wants to know how soon they can eat once they have dental work done, and in most cases, it’s safe to eat immediately after a dental procedure. However, it is important to be aware of your cheeks and tongue if the anesthetic has not worn off. For most patients, anesthetic should wear off within a couple of hours of leaving the dental office.
Dental crowns can be made out of a few different materials. Most patients opt for materials that can be tinted to match the rest of their teeth, such as porcelain or ceramic or zirconia. Metals can be used to make crowns and be ideal for patients with a strong bite, but since they cannot be fabricated to match the rest of your teeth, metal crowns are usually used on posterior teeth. Another option is porcelain fused to metal. This one gives you the best of both worlds, the strength of metal, and the aesthetic benefits of porcelain.
After you’re all done at your dental office, you will still be numb for a bit. ?Once the anesthetic wears off, you will feel if your bite needs any adjusting. If the tooth feels a little high or you feel that you cannot bite completely, give your dentist a call to adjust the crown a bit. Occlusal adjustments are a common and quick follow up visit.
Your dental crown can last a lifetime with good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist. Dental crowns are considered medically necessary, so if you have dental insurance, they will likely cover some of the cost of your crown.
More on Dental Crowns : How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
