Dental Crowns Are Nothing To Fear

Do you hate visiting the dentist? It is never fun to have a cavity filled, or to get a filling capped with a crown. In reality, though getting a crown will require extra visits, it is not all that different from having a cavity filled. In fact, when all is said and done, having a tooth with a smooth crown is usually preferable to having a tooth with an exposed (usually rough filling). This article explains the procedure of getting an implant or crown put on. It is a simple process, but one that is not overly painful or scary (it's not nearly as bad as getting a root canal).

It All Starts with a Cavity and Filling

A crown is usually implanted on a tooth that had an abnormally large cavity, or several small cavities. In some cases, too little of the tooth remains after all the drilling, so it is more practical to cap the tooth, instead of trying to make a natural tooth shape with the filling. A dentist might not know that a crown is necessary until after they have drilled the holes for your cavity. The dentist will see that the tooth can only be salvaged with a crown. If this is the diagnosis, don't be afraid.

At this point the dentist shape your tooth into a post. The crown goes right over the post. Once the post is formed, the dentist will fill your cavity with a temporary filling and put on a temporary crown.

Getting The Crown Installed

Unfortunately, crowns need to be made by a 3rd party company, so it often takes a few weeks for the crown to come in. Some crown makers are experimenting with 3D printing. If this comes to fruition, it will definitely reduce the wait time. When the crown is ready you will return to the dentist for easy installation. You don't need to be numbed during the crown installation. The dentist will easily pop off the temp crown and glue on the permanent replacement.

In some ways, having a crown is easier than having a filling. Crowns are smooth and impermeable. That is, your crown will not get a cavity. It is an expensive procedure, but a crowned tooth is bound to be less sensitive and problematic in the future. But, this does not mean you should not maintain regular dental hygiene practices. Take care of your teeth and you won't need to get another crown put on another tooth. Visit Dental Services Of Rochester if you have questions.