Category: Crown Procedure

Hearing that you need to have a dental crown placed can cause concern for many dental patients. Often it’s simply fear of the unknown that begins a person’s worry. Rest assured, however, that dental crowns are a common and effective option for tooth restoration. To become most comfortable with a dental crown procedure, Dr. Dean Dietrich of Pleasant Dental in Dolton, Illinois, believes that it’s important to start at the beginning.

Dental crowns are used to restore and support teeth that are badly decayed or that have been chipped or fractured. They are used when the tooth is weak or has structural damage and as part of a bridge and crown appliance.

Receiving a dental crown is a simple dental procedure that requires several trips to the dentist’s office. During the first visit, your mouth will be examined and your options will be explained to you. While dental crowns are important and effective in restorative and cosmetic dental care, Dr. Dietrich believes that it’s important for the patient to be part of the decision. Only with true understanding of your situation and your procedure options will you be able to make the most informed decision.

Once you’ve decided to have a dental crown placed, your tooth will be prepared. Depending on your situation, the preparation could require removing decay or building up the tooth so that a crown can be securely placed. Prior to beginning work, you will receive local anaesthesia to be sure that you don’t feel anything during the procedure. Once the tooth has been prepared, impressions will be taken and a temporary crown will be placed.

The crown will be custom made to be a unique and natural fit. Most patients opt for porcelain crowns because of the tooth colored appearance that matches the rest of the teeth. Once the crown has been created, you return to have it placed. Dr. Dietrich will test the crown to be sure that the fit and appearance are perfect before cementing the restoration into place.

For more information, call the Pleasant Dental office today.

Dental crowns, also called caps, are covers, placed over decayed or damaged teeth. They are commonly used to restore teeth that are broken, fractured, worn down, misshapen, or severely decayed. Crowns are also placed on weak or brittle teeth to prevent damage. In select cases, they may be used for cosmetic enhancement, if technicalities prevent the placement of porcelain veneers.

Exam

The first step in the process is an examination and consultation with Dr. Dietrich. Unless you have a background in dentistry, it is unlikely that you can tell if you are going to need a crown simply by looking at the tooth in the mirror.

Sometimes the damage isn’t as bad as it seems, and a filling or veneer will do the trick. Other times, you might only see a small cavity, but it is very deep or it has spread behind the enamel, causing more structural damage than is apparent.

Restoring health

Root canal treatment is not required for every tooth that needs a crown. However, if the pulp (soft tissue in the middle of the tooth) is injured or infected, it will be necessary before the tooth can be restored. If you need a root canal treatment, Dr. Dietrich will discuss it with you during the initial consultation and examination.

Shaping the tooth

Before beginning any work, the doctor will numb your tooth to ensure that you remain comfortable throughout the process. Next, any decayed, diseased, or damaged portion of the tooth is removed. Depending on the amount of healthy structure that remains, the doctor may reduce the tooth further, or build it up with dental materials. It is imperative the size and shape be optimized, because this will have a significant effect on the fit and durability of the crown.

Impressions

Once the tooth is prepared, Dr. Dietrich will take impressions, which the dental laboratory will use to create your permanent crown. At this time, he will also fit you with a provisional restoration to protect the tooth and make it functional until your crown is ready.

Completing the procedure

We will schedule your next appointment when the permanent crown is ready. Dr. Dietrich will then remove the provisional, clean the tooth, and put the new crown in place with temporary adhesive. This gives him an opportunity to check the fit, bite alignment, color, and other factors. If everything is just right, he will remove the temporary adhesive, and permanently cement the crown in place.

If you have any questions, or you would like to schedule an appointment, call Pleasant Dental at [phone].

A dental crown, also called a cap, is used to restore a broken, damaged, or weak tooth. It covers all exposed surfaces, acting as a shield between the tooth and anything that might contact it. It also replaces any portion of the tooth structure that is missing, and restores the proper size and shape.

The dental crown procedure is very straightforward and it only involves a few steps. First, the tooth is shaped and impressions are taken. Then the crown is created by a laboratory. When it is ready, your dentist removes the temporary, cleans off the tooth, and cements the new one in place. It may sound simple, but the smallest error in design, preparation, or placement can cause big problems. That is why Dr. Dietrich does not “cut corners” or ignore the small details, which explains his excellent success rate with crowns and other dental procedures.

Each stage of the process is approached with exacting precision:

• Preparation – First, all of the diseased tooth material needs to be removed. The next step is shaping the tooth. It might need grinding down or building up, depending on how much healthy structure there is. Both the size and shape are crucial. The height and angle of the finished tooth must be precisely correct, or there will be a negative impact on your bite. The tooth must be small enough to allow for sufficient thickness of the crown, yet large enough to be a strong base.
• Design – The crown is designed for optimal health, comfort, longevity, and esthetics. If you have selected porcelain, which is the most common material, the color will be matched to your other teeth. Additionally, the size, shape, and subtle contours of the crown are designed to replicate a flawless tooth. In most cases, the original shape of the tooth is recreated. However, a crown can also be used to correct a misshapen tooth.
• Fabrication – The quality of the restoration is dependent on the quality of the dental laboratory. Therefore, Dr. Dietrich only works with select, trusted, reputable labs and ceramists.
• Placement – The final step is putting your new crown in place. Although Dr. Dietrich’s attention to detail prevents most common issues, he will not cement the crown until everything is verified. When the alignment is correct, the fit is ideal, and you are happy with the comfort and appearance, your new crown is permanently secured in place.

You don’t have to settle for cheap dental care, no matter how tight your budget is. Call [phone] and schedule an appointment at Pleasant Dental, where you will get high-quality care at the lowest possible price.