Dental Crown

How Does It Work?

Crowns involve the placement of a tooth-shaped cap on top of an affected area, cementing it in place. They tend to be prescribed for a wide variety of patients. If patients have worn down their teeth over time, or if a large cavity has developed, then a crown may be the best remedy.

Sometimes, older fillings start to weaken an entire tooth leading to the need for extra strengthening and crowns are often needed following root canal treatment. They can also be applied for purely cosmetic reasons. For instance, they are a popular way to conceal discolouration or misshapen teeth. A crown is also applied on top of the abutment when a patient gets a dental implant procedure.

How Is a Crown Prepared?

At the first appointment, a dentist will shape the tooth to create a shape that suits a crown.

The doctor then take impressions of your mouth to create crown that will match your existing teeth.

Labs receive the impression and create hard copies, usually out of plaster. This hard mould is then used to create a metal, resin or ceramic crown, which is sent back to the dentist.

The dentist now cements the crown in place, and may need to trim it slightly to handle any imperfections in the preparation process.

How Long Does The Treatment Take?

The duration of the procedure depends on the reason for the treatment. If there is extensive tooth damage, a dentist may need to build up your tooth with an intermediate filling so that it is the correct shape for a crown to be applied.

Generally, you will attend a first appointment where the damaged tooth is ground into the appropriate shape. You will then receive a temporary crown for use while the permanent version is created.

The temporary cap is removed, and the moulded crown is then cemented in place. In both cases, the appointments should last no longer than 2 hour, and can be as quick as 30 minutes, although the whole process can take 2-5 days.

The whole process can be completed in as little as 5 days depending on the number of crowns to be made.

After Care

There might be some pain after the permanent crown is placed which will come as a surprise to people who had a temporary one. This is because, the permanent crown comes directly in contact with the nerve. The doctor will prescribe appropriate medication for this. The patient must not take more medicine than prescribed.

  Ask the Doctor : Dental Crown