Properly aligned teeth not only give you a beautiful smile, but they can significantly improve your overall dental health.
(416) 481-7887Teeth can be misshapen naturally or due to an accident or decay. If your front tooth is effected, it can make you self-conscious about smiling, whereas a back tooth can impact your speaking and eating. A permanent solution for all these problems is a dental crown.
A dental crown is a cap that covers the tooth to restore it to the correct shape. Dental crowns can strengthen a weak teeth and improve appearances. Other uses include holding a bridge in place, covering an implant to fill the gap of a missing tooth, and protecting a tooth after root canal therapy instead of a filling.
You usually need to visit your dentist at least twice to receive a crown. In the first appointment, your dentist will examine the tooth that requires a crown and take a few X-rays to check the roots and bone. If there is any risk of infection, you will need root canal treatment before the crown.
If everything looks fine, your dentist will apply anesthetic to numb the area around your tooth. He or she will file all three surfaces of the tooth, unless it has suffered significant decay. In the case of decay, your dentist may need to use filling material to enable the tooth to support the crown.
Your dentist will then use paste, putty, or a digital scanner to make an impression of your tooth. He or she will also make an impression of the teeth above or below to ensure your bite will be unaffected by the crown. At this time, you will also receive a temporary crown.
You will return to the clinic after two or three weeks when your crown is ready. After your dentist checks the fit of the permanent crown, you will receive anesthetic and your dentist will cement the crown over your entire tooth.