Dentists use dental crowns to restore teeth after extensive damage or reinforce teeth that didn’t develop correctly. These high-quality restorations serve to transform a tooth into its proper size and shape and protect it from further damage or infection. In some cases, crowns are used to anchor dental bridges into place. If you’re scheduled to receive a dental crown when you’ve never had one before, you might be concerned that having it placed will hurt. Here’s what a dental crown placement procedure entails as well as how you can expect it to feel.
How Are Dental Crowns Placed?
Dental crowns are typically placed in two appointments. During the first, your dentist will inspect the tooth and make it ready to receive the crown. This includes taking X-rays to gather data about the tooth and surrounding bone as well as filing down the tooth to make room. This is done using a local anesthetic, making the whole process painless. Your dentist will then take an impression of the altered tooth so it can be sent to the lab that will manufacture the permanent crown. They will then cement a temporary dental crown upon the tooth.
You’ll come in for your second appointment when your dentist receives your permanent crown a few weeks later. Your dentist will remove the temporary crown, check the permanent one for color, shape, and fit, and permanently cement it into place. They may use a local anesthetic if necessary.
Can Dental Crowns Be Placed in One Day?
These days, many dental offices offer CEREC same-day dental crown services. After your dentist inspects and prepares your tooth for a crown, a special scanning device will analyze it to create a 3D model of it. Another machine will then mill down a customized crown for you from a block of ceramic material in about fifteen minutes. Your dentist will then cement it into place, and the whole process is rendered painless by local anesthetics.
What Is Recovery Like?
Recovering from a dental crown may involve some irritation or inflammation, and your dentist will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions. Your restored tooth may feel slightly different from the original one, but this is normal, and you will notice this less and less as time goes on. If you experience soreness, over-the-counter pain medication can help keep you comfortable. If your mouth still feels uncomfortable after a few days, call your dentist to schedule an appointment for adjustments.
About the Author
Dr. Ted Morgan earned his dental doctorate at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry and has found great joy in helping people through his vocation. He is proud to serve as a member of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. His office in Gorham, ME offers general, cosmetic, emergency, and restorative dentistry like CEREC same-day dental crowns. For more information on the process of receiving a dental crown, contact the office online or dial (207) 839-2655.