What to Expect When You Get Crowns Placed

Crowns are a common restorative dentistry practice used to fix a broken or fractured tooth. Sometimes, a crown can replace the top part of the tooth if the bottom part of the tooth still has a solid root or if the tooth has had a root canal. A crown provides a good shape and size that can be essential to chewing food. It also protects the broken tooth structure and ensures a strong replacement.

Reasons for a Crown 

  • Broken tooth.
  • Cracked tooth.
  • A tooth with a root canal.
  • A tooth that is weakened by a large filling.
  • Mal-positioned tooth.
  • Mal-formed or discolored tooth.

Crowns are less invasive, less time-consuming, and more affordable than dental implants. Sometimes, crowns are used to create dental bridges. For the purposes of this blog post, we are focusing on individual dental crowns. 

Dentists typically have access to these types of dental crown materials:

  • Porcelain/Ceramic 
  • Zirconia
  • Metal
  • Combination of materials

Porcelain/Ceramic is the most popular material for crowns. Porcelain is extremely durable and can last many years. It also looks like natural tooth material, which makes your smile look like it should. 

Preparing for the New Crown

Crown placement typically takes a couple of appointments to complete. Your dentist must first identify a tooth in need of a crown. If that is the best course of action for you, you will have a couple of appointments with your dentist.

First, your dentist will take an impression of the existing tooth and the teeth around it to ensure the crown will be properly shaped and fit. Next, he will remove decayed, broken, or fractured tooth material or broken filling material. He will shape the remaining tooth to make sure a crown can fit and stay in place for a long time. This process requires anesthesia of some kind in order to avoid any discomfort as he removes the damaged part of the tooth to create a place to secure the crown.

Following the shaping of the tooth, an image of the tooth will be made using either a digital scanner or impression material, such as a dental mold. The impressions will be used to create custom crowns that will perfectly fit the tooth base and the other teeth around it. Your dentist will also look at the color of your teeth, and you can select a shade that matches your natural tooth color.

A temporary crown can then be placed to protect the tooth. The temporary crown stays in place until the custom crown is complete — usually a couple of weeks. The custom crowns are created at a dental lab that has extremely accurate fabrication equipment. They will use the image to create a crown that fits your mouth perfectly.

Placing the Permanent Crown

Once your custom crown has been fabricated, you will have your second appointment for permanent crown placement. Your dentist will remove the temporary crown and thoroughly clean the tooth receiving the new crown. Once the dentist is done placing the crown, you’ll have a tooth that looks new!

Caring for Your Crown

A crown doesn’t require a lot of special care, but you will want to continue brushing and flossing your teeth. 

Of course, you should always take good care of your teeth. Flossing daily can help keep your teeth and gums in top shape. You may experience more sensitive teeth, so consider trying a toothpaste designed to care for sensitive teeth. Brush twice daily to further care for your teeth and the crown. Good care can make your crown last a long time. Crowns typically last 10 to 20 years. 

Your cost of a crown varies, depending on your dental insurance and the type of crown. If you don’t have dental insurance, the Westdale Dental Membership Plan provides regular dental care and 15% off crowns, dentures, fillings, and other restorative dentistry. For an annual fee, this exclusive discounted plan makes paying for dental care easier and more affordable. If you have questions about it, please visit our Membership Plan page or call our office to learn more. Financing is also available. 

If you have a cracked tooth or filling, you might be a candidate for a dental crown. New patients are always welcome here, so please contact us with any dental concerns.