Crowns
At your clinical examination, your dentist suggested that the proper means
of restoring your tooth was a crown. The reasons for making that suggestion
can vary from case to case. Some of the indications for a crown are:
- A previously filled tooth where there now exists more filling than tooth.
The existing tooth structure becomes weakened and can no longer support the
filling.
- Extensive damage by decay.
- Discolorations and compromised esthetics.
- Fractures
- Root canal - After root canal, teeth tend to become brittle and are more
apt to fracture. They, therefore, need to be protected by a crown.
- Bridges - When missing teeth are replaced with a bridge, the adjacent teeth
require crowns in order to support the replacement teeth.
Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure and can improve
the appearance of your teeth. Crowns can be made from different materials which
include the full porcelain crown, the porcelain fused-to-metal crown and the
all-metal crown. You and your dentist will decide which type is appropriate,
depending upon the strength requirements and esthetic concerns of the tooth
involved.
Fitting a crown requires at least two appointments. During your first visit,
the tooth is prepared for the crown, an impression or mold is made of the tooth,
and a temporary crown is placed over the prepared tooth. At the subsequent visit,
the temporary crown is removed and the final crown is fitted and adjusted and
cemented into place.
First Visit
The first visit begins by giving you a local anesthetic. Depending upon the type
of local anesthetic used, you can expect to be numb for one to four hours. If
your anesthesia should last longer, do not be concerned. Not everyone reacts to
medication in the same manner. One word of caution : While you are numb,
please be careful not to bite your lip or tongue. A soft diet or no meal at all
while you are numb is probably a good idea. If your child has been the patient,
please watch them carefully to be sure they do not play with their tongue or lip
while it is numb.
Once you are numb, your dentist will prepare your tooth in a very specific
way in order to maximize the retention and esthetics of your new porcelain to
metal crown. After the tooth is fully prepared, we proceeded with the impression
stage. We used a thin piece of retraction cord which is placed around your tooth
in order to get the impression material under the gum where the crown ends.
Please rest assured that this small piece of cord was removed prior to the end
of today's visit.
Should you experience any discomfort you can take a mild analgesic (Tylenol™,
Advil™, Anacin™, etc.) as long as there is no medical
contraindication based upon your medical history. Typically, you can take anything
you would normally take for a headache. If the discomfort persists, please call
your dentist.
Once the impression stage is completed , your dentist or his assistant will
place a temporary (transitional ) crown (or bridge if multiple teeth
were involved) on your tooth. These plastic (acrylic) restorations
are placed on teeth to protect them and the gum tissues between dental visits.
The temporary cementing medium used is designed to allow the easy removal of
the temporary at your next scheduled visit.
There are a couple of additional facts you should know about regarding the
care of your temporary crown:
- Home care is extremely important while your temporary crown is in place.
The health of your gum tissue and the success of your final treatment restoration
depends upon it. PLEASE do not be afraid to clean your teeth between visits.
With a minimal amount of home care, you should be able to maintain the continued
health of your teeth and gum tissue during the time required to fabricate
your new crown.
- Sometimes, even with meticulous care, temporary crowns or bridges may become
loose between visits. If this should occur, please place the temporary crown
or bridge back on your tooth immediately. Putting a drop of Vaseline™
in the temporary crown or bridge will very often increase the retention and
hold the temporary in place until you can schedule an appointment. Once again,
REPLACING THE TEMPORARY CROWN IMMEDIATELY IS VERY IMPORTANT ! It only
takes a short time for teeth to move if the temporary is not put back into
its proper position. This could affect the final restoration significantly
and may necessitate new impressions and a great deal of time. If you can not
replace the temporary crown yourself, put it in a safe place and call the
office. We will be happy to recement it for you at the earliest possible moment.
Second visit
At that time, the temporary crown is removed and any temporary cement is cleaned
from the prepared tooth. Your dentist will fit the final crown, check for accuracy,
adjust for any bite discrepancies and evaluate the esthetics. If all of these
factors are acceptable, the crown is cemented to your tooth. It is not unusual
for the new crown to be mildly sensitive to cold temperatures for a few weeks.
However, if the sensitivity is severe, does not subside, or if the bite feels
uncomfortable, contact your dentist. Further adjustments to the crown may be necessary.
We hope that this brief instruction sheet will answer most of your questions
regarding crowns. Following these simple guidelines will help provide you with
the finest in dental care. If you have any questions regarding this or any other
procedure, please contact your dentist.