The Dental Crown Procedure: Step by Step

Dental crowns are among the most common ways to cover teeth that are decaying, severely stained, cracked, or just in bad shape. A crown is a versatile dental treatment that offers restoration and renewal. There are many options when it comes to dental crowns. For example, you can receive a gold, metal alloy, porcelain, or composite resin crown, depending on your preference, the dentist's recommendation, and what the problem is.

Getting a dental crown is not as simple of a procedure as having your teeth cleaned, but it is not as in-depth as an extraction. Nonetheless, a few steps are involved, which can be helpful to know ahead of time. Continue reading to find out more.

A guide to getting a dental crown

Here are the steps that are involved when getting a dental crown placed. This information can be helpful to patients who are preparing for this procedure.

Preparation

First, the dentist will apply a numbing agent to the tooth and surrounding areas. While having a crown is not necessarily painful, certain parts of the procedure are not the most comfortable, especially if the tooth is decaying. Once the patient's mouth is numbed, the dentist will remove any decaying tooth parts using a drill or laser. Then, the tooth is cleaned, and any excess debris is removed from the oral cavity.

Placing the dental crown

Usually, a composite resin crown is placed as a temporary measure while a permanent one is made in a dental lab. The composite resin keeps the natural tooth safe until the permanent crown is placed, typically a few weeks later. Installing both the temporary and permanent crown is quite simple. A small amount of dental cement is placed on the tooth, and the crown is pushed into place. The dentist will check for any excess pieces that may be overlapping or irritating the gum tissue.

Aftercare

Patients can return to school or work once the dental crown procedure is complete. It is not necessary to take any time off, as there is no open wound or anything that needs to heal. That said, if a sedative was provided before the procedure, the patient will need to have someone available to drive them home. Aftercare recommendations are relatively simple:

• Carefully brush around the newly placed dental crown.
• Rinse with salt water to keep any bacteria at bay.
• Avoid hard or chewy foods for a couple of days after the procedure.
• Note any irritations or discomforts from the dental crown area.