Do you avoid certain foods because they get stuck in your teeth? Or do you avoid smiling because your teeth are broken or cracked?
If so, dental crowns are a better option for you.
A dental crown procedure can make your teeth look new and pearly white. It involves placing a cap over your damaged teeth. However, a dentist will not just set a cap on your teeth; they will first prepare your teeth for crowns.
This article will outline every detail you need to know about dental crown preparation so you can be prepared for your next visit to the dentist.
But first, let us discuss what is likely on your mind: what a dental crown is.
What is a dental crown?
They are tooth-shaped caps made from various materials. They are made to cover your damaged tooth and restore its size, shape, and strength.
A dental crown is useful for:
- Securing a dental bridge
- Concealing misshapen or discoloured tooth
- Protecting decayed tooth
- Holding parts of a cracked tooth
- Reinstate the integrity and function of a worn-out tooth
- Cover and support the filling when enough tooth is not left
Types of dental crowns
After identifying whether you are an ideal candidate for dental crowns, you and your dentist can finalise the type of crown you want. Some common types of crowns available include the following:
- Stainless steel
- Metal
- Composite resin
- Zirconia
- Ceramic
- Porcelain
However, the selection of the type of dental crowns will largely depend on the following:
- Colour of the surrounding teeth
- Gum tissue positioning
- Amount of remaining natural tooth
- Tooth’s location and function
- How much of the tooth will be visible when you smile
Also, it depends on whether you need an onlay crown, temporary crown, one-day crown, or permanent crown.
Who needs a dental crown?
A dentist will recommend the dental crown procedure to:
- Safeguard a weak tooth before it breaks
- Restore a broken tooth
- Cover a dental implant
- Make cosmetic alterations
- Support a tooth with a large filling
General crown preparation procedure
Some of the initial steps will remain the same, whether you want to finish treatment in one day or select a multi-day procedure.
- Mouth examination
On your first visit, your dentist will examine your dental health. It involves assessing the tooth that requires a dental crown procedure and the surrounding area.
Also, they will take X-rays of your mouth to get a proper view of the roots of your tooth and the adjacent bones.
Sometimes, the underlying issues in your mouth are severe and can call for the best all-on-4 dental implants.
- Numb the tooth
Your dentist will employ local anaesthetic procedures to numb the damaged tooth and the surrounding area. Hence, you will experience negligible discomfort during the process.
Your dentist will generally give you conscious sedation for a hassle-free and pain-free dental crown procedure. But you will need intravenous sedation if you suffer from severe anxiety and cannot sit still in the dentist’s chair.
- Prepare the tooth
The dentist will prepare your tooth by filing and shaving it to remove a layer. Also, if your tooth has filling material, the dentist will remove it too.
They use special tools to file down the sides and top of your tooth to make it smoother and smaller. This also allows them to see the full extent of tooth decay. Hence, they can remove damaged tooth parts and save the natural tooth.
Now, the next step will be based on the type of dental crowns you have decided to get.
Crown preparation for a one-day procedure
There is good news for the people who want to “just get over with this.” Many dentists offer same-day dental crowns, so you need not visit a dentist again. The process entails the following:
- Scanning
The dentist will first take digital scans of the tooth that needs a dental crown procedure and the surrounding area. The scanning results will be used to develop a 3-D model of your mouth.
- Crown Creation
The dentist will send the digital images and measurement details to the laboratory to create a crown. Then, the professionals will create a crown from the material you and your dentist have selected.
- Crown installation
When the dental crowns are ready, your dentist will select a dental cement and install the crown. During installation, you can ask for anaesthesia; when it wears off, you are as good as new.
Crown preparation for the multi-day procedure
- Tooth impression
After following the general preparation steps discussed earlier in this blog, the dentist will take impressions of your affected tooth and send it to the laboratory for dental crown preparation.
- Temporary crown placement
The dentist will fit a temporary crown over your tooth, which is short-lasting. It is designed to stay over your tooth until the permanent crown is installed.
So, you can go home after getting temporary dental crowns. However, you must be careful with a temporary crown as it is not permanently fixed and can fall off.
- Final crown installation
After about a fortnight, you will visit your dentist again.
Now, they will choose a dental cement relevant to the crown material and your tooth colour. It should be able to withstand the wear and tear in the mouth.
The dentist will apply a uniform coat of cement inside the dental crown and meticulously place it on your tooth. Then, the excess amount of cement will be scraped away.
- Bite adjustment
Lastly, the dentist will put a registration paper between your jaws and ask you to bite. This will help them identify the uneven parts that need fixing.
Then, the dentist will grind those parts and repeat the procedure until the teeth become even.
Wrapping up!
Correct tooth preparation and dental crown procedure are necessary for good oral health. So, now you know what is involved in the preparation of dental crowns. You can confidently book an appointment with your dentist.
Even if you have never undergone a dental crown procedure, talk to a reputable dentist and get the best advice for your oral health.
