By Arthur Kezian
About 75% of adults in the US
Reasons for a Crown
·
Some people might need a crown to protect a
very weak tooth with a lot of decay.
·
Very large fillings where there is not enough
tooth left will also need crowns for support.
·
Crowns can be used to make alterations to
improve your smile.
·
Crowns may also be used to cover a dental
implant as that is the last stage of an implant procedure.
·
There are many kinds of crowns including all
porcelain, zirconia crowns,
all-resin crowns, all metal crowns, or crowns with porcelain fused to metal.
You and your dentist will settle on the best possible option for your case and
your budget.
First
Appointment: Preparation of the Crown
Before
starting a crown procedure, your dentist needs to prepare your tooth for a
crown. The first step in the crown preparation would be to get the area being
worked on numb. Your dentist will give you local anesthesia to numb the tooth
and the gum around that tooth. The next step would be to file down your tooth
from the biting surface as well as the sides of it to make room for the crown
to slip on. After your tooth has been restructured, your dentist will take an
impression of your teeth to make sure the crown fits consequently to your bite.
Before sending the impressions to a dental lab where the crown will be made,
your dentist will take the shade of your teeth to make sure the lab matches it
as close as possible. The closer the color match, the more natural the crown
will look in your mouth. The color shade step is a short one, but a very
crucial you’re your dentist should show you the shade he/she chooses to make
sure you are content with the color match.
The
procedure is almost done. The last step is to place a temporary crown on before
the permanent crown is done and ready to be cemented. With the temporary crowns
you should avoid gum, caramel, or toffee to make sure they don’t pull out the crown.
Also try to stay away from very hard foods so that they don’t break your
temporary crown. This will save you an additional visit to the dentist. Whether
you are getting zirconia or
metal crowns, you should be careful with flossing with your temporary crown.
Put the floss through your teeth and instead of pulling it outward, slide it
through to take it out.
Second Appointment:
Cementation
Your second appointment is
the final appointment of the crown procedure. This appointment is a lot quicker
than your first one because it does not involve drilling down your tooth. Your
temporary crown is taken off and your new crown is put on. If everything looks
good to your dentist, the margins fit correctly, the color match is on point,
and the crown fits properly, then it is ready for cementation. Permanent cement
is used this time for a better, sturdier application. The cement is then
cleaned out properly and the process is finished.
Before
leaving the office though, your dentist and the staff will give you proper
post-operative instructions regarding your crown and how to take care of it. Porcelain crowns need
to be cared for just like your natural teeth need to be cared for. Make sure
you keep your crowns clean to prevent them from causing puffiness and
inflammation in your gums.
If
you have any questions regarding porcelain crowns, please feel free to contact
Dr. Arthur A. Kezian. He and his staff will be ready to assist you and make
sure you are at ease. As long as you know and understand the procedure, there
is no need to fear the dental work.
Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles , CA
90004
-N.S.
