Three Things You Need To Know About Getting A Dental Crown
If you have a tooth that is irregularly shaped, worn down, or in poor structural condition, your dentist may recommend that you get the tooth fitted for a dental crown. A dental crown is a cover that fits over your tooth; it comes in an assortment of materials and is intended to give the tooth a natural appearance. If a dental crown is in your future, take a few moments to understand what to expect after the procedure.
1. Your Crown May be Sensitive
It is not uncommon for dental crowns to be sensitive for a period of time. This is especially common if the tooth was extremely decayed and required a root canal. If the decay was close to the pulp of your tooth, it takes time for the nerves to settle back down.
Consult with your dentist as to how long it is reasonable to experience sensitivity. If the sensitivity doesn't improve or gets worse during the specified time frame, a return trip to the dentist may be in order.
2. You'll Get Two Crowns
Your dentist will first fit your tooth with a temporary crown. Don't be tempted to use this as a long term solution; temporary crowns should only be used for a few weeks.These crowns are made in your dentist's office.
Temporary crowns are used until your permanent crown is created. Dentists make impressions of the tooth, then send these impressions off to a lab that specializes in making crowns. Once the crown is ready, your dentist pops the temporary crown off and fits your tooth with the permanent crown, using cement to stick it to your tooth.
Permanent crowns come in a variety of materials, including porcelain, ceramic, resin, metal, and alloys. Your dentist can help you decide which material is best for your oral needs.
3. Crowns Can Fall Off
Though it isn't common, your crown can fall off your tooth. Crowns that only have a small amount of tooth to adhere to are susceptible to coming loose, as are crowns secured with too little adhesive.
If this happens, don't fret. You can put the crown back on your tooth yourself for a temporary fix until your dentist can see you.
Make sure your locate the crown when it falls out. You don't want to go through the expense of having another one created unless it is absolutely necessary. Wash the crown and your tooth. Use store bought dental adhesive to attach the crown to your tooth.
Always follow up with your dentist so that the crown can be re-cemented into place using strong cement. If the crown fell off due to a poor fit, you may need to have a new one made.
For more information, contact companies like Smile Makers Dental.
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