Dentistry 101: What Happens During a Dental Crown Procedure
Are you scheduled for a dental appointment? If your dentist has set you up for a dental crown procedure, you should know what to expect. This knowledge will help you properly prepare for the operation.
This procedure will take several appointments. The first visit will entail examining and cleaning your teeth. After which, your dentist will get an imprint of the said tooth. They will do this in preparation for placing a permanent cap on it and applying a temporary crown to protect the said tooth.
What do all of these have to do with the dental crown procedure? If you are asking this question, you should continue reading this article.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cover that conceals the visible part of the tooth. Your dentist would apply this to your tooth to restore its size, shape, and strength. They will cement it in place. When they do this, the dental crown completely encapsulates the tooth’s visible structure including the gumline.
Your First Visit
Earlier, we discussed what will most likely happen during your first visit. It was mentioned that your dentist will examine, clean, make an imprint of your tooth, and place a temporary crown. He will take an X-ray of the said tooth to determine if there are any signs of decay or other factors that may complicate the operation.
Some patients may require a root canal before the dentist will proceed with the dental crown procedure. Typically, your dentist may have to reshape your tooth to make room for the crown. But this will depend on the type of crown chosen.
Let us say that you opt for a metal-based crown. In this case, your dentist will not take away a big chunk of your tooth because it is thinner. Your dentist will file a portion of the crown-facing surfaces. During this time, he will also take care of the other dental issues.
Some patients may not have enough tooth structure left to put dental implants. In this situation, their dentist would build up a filler substance before putting in a crown.
Procedure for Placing a Crown on the Same Day
Sometimes the dentist determines that he can put a crown on the same day. It will save you time and money because you do not have to come back. Take note that it is not essential to make an impression of your tooth but rather capture images of it with scanning equipment called a wand.
The images are used as a guide to construct a 3D model of your tooth. After which, a ceramic crown can be made from the digital model. What is great about this is that this can be done on the same day as the digital model is created. Innovative technology such as CAD/CAM can shorten the entire process to fifteen minutes.
Conclusion
As mentioned, knowing what will happen during the operation will help you prepare for it. As early as the examination phase, you can ask pertinent questions to your dentist. Thus, it will help in your quick recovery.
If you are looking for a reputable dentist in Denver, you do not have to look far. At G-Dental32, we can restore your dental health so that you will be more confident with your smile. Call us now for an appointment!
