You have a damaged tooth, and the situation calls for a dental crown. It’s understandable to want to know what will happen next! First, your dentist will have to prepare your smile to successfully receive your crown. If you’re also wondering how they’re going to do that, keep reading – you’ll learn everything you need to know about dental crown prep.
Planning for Preliminary Treatment
Before your dentist makes any alterations to your tooth, they’ll examine your mouth for harmful oral conditions like cavities and gum disease. These problems can cause treatment failure, so it’s very important to make sure your oral health is in good shape. If you end up needing gum disease therapy or a filling, it will be included in your plan as a preliminary treatment.
Administering a Local Anesthetic
While the process of actually placing a crown on top of a tooth is pretty painless, reshaping it would produce some unpleasant sensations if it weren’t for a local anesthetic. To help ensure your comfort for the entirety of your treatment, your dentist will administer an anesthetic that will effectively numb your mouth, and the most you’re likely to feel is some light pressure as they work.
Shaping the Tooth
As previously stated, it might be necessary to “reshape” your tooth. Damaged pearly whites can have sharp edges or configurations that would make it difficult to place a dental crown seamlessly. Plus, shaving down the tooth or adding to it with bonding will help make sure your crown looks natural rather than bulky or oversized.
Placing the Temporary and Final Crown
Finally, your dentist will provide you with a temporary crown. The purpose of this type of restoration is to keep your tooth safe until the dental lab technicians can finish fabricating your customized crown. You may have to wear a temporary crown for as long as two weeks, but it’s well worth it to preserve the health and wellness of your pearly white. Once your permanent crown is ready, it will seamlessly protect your tooth for years to come!
About the Practice
Our three dentists at Smile By Design of Virginia Beach are excited to meet you and help restore your smile. Each is known for having a warm and friendly nature, and you can count on them to listen to your needs and concerns attentively. Our team firmly believes that there’s no such thing as a stupid question, so please – if you’d like to know more about how we’ll prepare your tooth for a dental crown, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact our office at 757-499-9639.