The Whole Tooth and Nothing But the Tooth

Dental crowns are an amazing dental appliance that can help you fix a variety of problems with your teeth. As you get older and your teeth see more wear and tear, you are more likely to have a problem where a tooth suffers from decay or breaks due to trauma. The solution to this problem is not to pull the tooth since you would lose the vital root that stimulates the jawbone and keeps your mouth healthy. That's where a crown comes in — it will save the tooth and restore it to its old strength. Here is what you need to know about dental crowns before you get one.

Dental Crowns Take Multiple Visits To Install

A dental crown is not something that you have installed in a single visit to the dentist. In fact, you'll have to return multiple times to ensure it is done right. It starts with the first visit, where the dentist will numb the area around the tooth to ensure you don't feel any discomfort. Then the tooth will be prepped by removing parts of the tooth so that the crown can fit over it. An impression is taken of the tooth, and then a temporary crown is put on top of it to give the tooth protection.

While you wait, the mold is taken to a lab where they will make a dental crown that is an exact fit for your mouth, providing you with a natural bite and a look that matches the surrounding teeth. If the dentist is satisfied with the crown, they will schedule you to come in for a second visit. The dental crown will then be cemented to the prepped tooth, where it will remain permanently attached to your tooth. If the crown does not fit well, the dentist will need to take another impression, send the mold back to the lab to make adjustments and then require you to come in one more time.

Dental Crowns Take Some Time To Adjust To

Don't expect to walk out of the dentist's office and have everything feel normal immediately. The biggest thing to watch out for is if the crown feels too high in your mouth and causes issues when you bite down on your teeth. If this happens, you'll need to have the dentist make adjustments to the crown back in their office.

You can also expect to feel some soreness in the area or slight pain for a few days after the procedure is finished. Take pain medication as directed, and contact the dentist if the problems continue past your dentist's recommendations. 

To learn more, contact a dentist about dental crowns.