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What
is a dental crown?
A
dental crown or cap, is a restoration that encases the tooth in order to
provide : a) strength to a badly decayed tooth, b) repair a broken or
cracked tooth, or c) improve the cosmetic appearance of the tooth.
What
is the difference between a filling and a dental crown?
Whereas a filling covers only a portion of the tooth that was decayed
and cleaned out, a dental crown completely encases the visible area of
the tooth, creating a brand new outer surface for your tooth.
What
does the dental crown procedure consist of?
When a crown is the best option, your dentist will shave your tooth by
a minimal thickness and then take an impression of your tooth, which
your dentist will send to the lab to make your permanent dental crown.
In the meantime, your dentist will place a temporary dental crown over
your tooth, and will determine what shade your dental crown will be in
order to best match the shade of your remaining teeth or what you
desire.
In 1-2 weeks your dental crown should be ready, you will return back to
the office for your second visit. Your dentist will remove the temporary
dental crown, clean out the tooth, and then cement the permanent dental
crown to your tooth.
Is
it possible for my dental crown to pop off?
Although unlikely, occasionally a dental crown will pop off, in which
case the crown must be replaced immediately, due to tooth sensitivity
and aesthetic appearance. In the case that this happens, please call us
immediately.
Will
my dental crown look and feel natural?
A
porcelain dental crown looks and feels exactly like a real tooth, so
nobody, including you, should be able to tell the difference. If
anything, your new dental crown will enhance the look of your smile.
A
dental crown is a procedure done very often in our offices for a variety
of reasons. A dental crown may be the best option for a tooth that has
had such significant decay that a filling may not be an adequate means
to strengthen the tooth. A dental crown is also a good choice for a
tooth that has chipped, cracked or broken and must be restored. Finally,
with the advent of cosmetic dentistry, one or more dental crowns may be
placed over your teeth in order to improve the overall aesthetic
appearance of your smile.
WILL
I BE SORE AFTER TREATMENT?
There is generally
soreness around the gum line. Pressure and temperature sensitivity is
occasionally seen for a few days and in rare cases few weeks. Do call
for an appointment soon if the bite feels high or "off" once the
anesthesia wears off. It is much better to polish a high spot before
the tooth develops a pain or bruised feeling.
WHEN CAN I
EAT?
Thirty minutes after
the anesthesia wears off.
HOW LONG WILL
I BE NUMB?
Anesthesia for the
lower is usually 3-4 hours and 2-3 hours for the upper.
WHAT IF THE
TEMPORARY CROWN COMES OFF?
Avoiding hard or
sticky foods will keep the temporary crown in place. If the temporaries
do come out call our office for re-cementation or apply a small amount
of denture paste to the temporary.
HOW LONG CAN I
BE IN TEMPORARIES?
Temporaries remain
in place for 1-3 weeks.
DO I NEED A
ROOT CANAL BEFORE A CROWN?
No, root canals are
not required prior to crowns; but if necessary, can be done after the
crown is cemented. There have been cases where root canals may be needed
after the crown is cemented.
Why is
a Dental Crown so Expensive?
There
are several reasons why a crown costs what it costs. First of all it is
custom work (labor intensive) in order to make to fit. It takes a time,
material, labor costs in the dental office and it is usually sent to a
dental lab which will charge the dentist for time and materials. Add to
this the amazingly high overhead in a dental office today, salaries,
equipment, rent, supplies, etc. Gold and porcelain fused to gold crowns
are made like jewelry, carved in wax, cast and polished. Also, it is
jewelry that is custom made for one tooth. If porcelain is used, the
lab tech creates that out of powder and water at a tiny oven. The work
is exacting and intricate.
Of
What Material are Dental Caps Made?
There
are many materials now that are used in caps:
1. Gold alloy;
2. Porcelain fused to gold alloy
3. Porcelain fused to non-precious metal
4. All porcelain
5. Composite resin.
6. Titanium
Different materials are used for different parts of the mouth and you
should discuss the alternatives with your dentist. The fee may also
vary with the cost of the lab work. It is the dentist's responsibility
to choose a quality lab to fabricate the crown.
Is
There an Alternative to a Crown?
In our
office, if a patient really cannot afford a crown, we will do a large
amalgam filling if possible, so the tooth can be preserved until a
crown is possible. Dentists in some countries place stainless steel
crowns that are ready made on permanent teeth that need crowns. This
may work for a while but it is hard to get a good fit and frequently the
gum is irritated by these stock crowns that have really bad leaking
margins which result in deep and extensive decay underneath the badly
fabricated crown.
How
long Does a Crown Last?
In
some studies an average length of a crown life was around five years; in
others, it was 18 years! It seems to me that a crown will last longer
in general if it is done correctly and made of quality materials. It
will last longer in a clean mouth that is free of decay.
Just like antique cars that the proud owners so lovingly take care off.
Crowns
that are placed on teeth that have posts holding them in do not seem to
last as long as those that do not have posts.
Many
insurance companies have an arbitrary "five year rule." They will not
pay for a second crown on a tooth unless the first crown is at least
five years old and, of course, is necessary.
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