Today, we will talk about before and after crowns on teeth. We’ve all looked at online photo galleries and been amazed at the transformations. If your knowledge of dental crowns is limited, carry on reading to learn precisely what they are, what they do, and how they can benefit your smile and life. So, let’s jump in and get started.
Many of us reach a point in our lives where we feel unhappy with our smiles. Whether our teeth look worn and discoloured or appear crooked, we all want a healthy-looking white smile that makes us feel proud. A solution lies in one small dental appliance – a dental crown.
Dental crowns explained
A dental crown or cap, as they’re commonly known, is a small device placed over the visible part of a natural tooth to improve its aesthetic and function. Crowns also protect fragile, damaged teeth from further injury.
In essence, a crown is an artificial tooth that protects, covers, and restores the shape of a tooth when a filling doesn’t solve the problem. Your dentist may recommend a dental crown for various reasons, including:
- Restoring teeth that are badly worn down or broken.
- Protecting a weak tooth susceptible to decay or holding the tooth together if parts of it are cracking.
- Covering and strengthening a tooth that has a large filling and not much structure remaining
- Covering a misshapen tooth or one that is stained from within
- Securing a dental bridge in place
- Protecting a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment
- Topping a dental implant
Dental crowns come in various materials, including:
- Porcelain
- Porcelain fused to metal (PFM)
- Resin
- Stainless steel
- Silver
- Gold
- Zirconia
So now you know the reasons for dental crowns, let’s get back to the topic of before and after crowns on teeth, starting with what happens before you get a dental crown.
How the procedure works?
The procedure for a dental crown typically happens within a few dental appointments unless your dentist offers CEREC dental crowns, which can be designed, fabricated and fitted in a single visit. CEREC is an abbreviation for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic, created using CAD/CAM.
Before getting a dental crown, the dentist will examine the affected tooth to ensure it can support a crown. They must then shape the tooth, so the crown fits properly by shaving the top and sides. If the tooth is badly damaged or broken, the dentist may place a filling to provide better support for the crown. However, if the damage is too severe, there may be no alternative but to extract the tooth and replace it with a dental implant.
Once the dentist has prepared the tooth receiving a crown, the next step is to take an impression and make a mould of the tooth and the surrounding teeth. Some dentists adopt the traditional method of making a mould with rubber-like dental putty. However, those dentists offering CEREC dental crowns will take an impression of the teeth using digital imaging and technology.
The dentist will send the mould to a lab where technicians use it to craft a custom dental crown that fits your mouth perfectly. Meanwhile, you’ll be fitted with a temporary resin crown to protect the prepared tooth until the permanent crown is back from the lab, usually within a couple of weeks. Once the permanent crown is ready, patients will return to their dentist, who will remove the temporary crown and replace it with a permanent one. The crown is tried on for fit, size and colour before the dentist firmly cements it.
Patients receiving CEREC crowns do not require a temporary cap since the design and milling are carried out on-site and fitted while they wait in the dental clinic.
The Benefits Dental Crowns Provide
Hopefully, the above has told you all you need to know before getting crowns on your teeth; and after, you will benefit in the following ways:
- Dental crowns replace missing teeth to stop other teeth from moving out of alignment. You will likely feel more confident with a gap-free smile.
- Crowns cover severely discoloured teeth helping you achieve a whiter, brighter smile.
- Dental crowns at the front of the mouth can be made from porcelain matched to the shade of your natural teeth to blend in naturally.
- A dentist can fix damaged or broken teeth with dental crowns enabling you to eat normally.
- Since crowns are cemented over your natural teeth, they don’t move around like dentures often do.
How to Care for Dental Crowns?
The average lifespan of a dental crown is around ten years, but depending on the material and how well they are cared for, a crown can last many more years.
Dental crowns are cared for in the same way as natural teeth:
- Brush and floss teeth regularly. Dental crowns can cause sensitivity for a few days, so you might want to use toothpaste for sensitive teeth until any pain subsides.
- Avoid chewing ice or other hard foods to prevent damaging the crown.
- Visit the dentist twice a year for professional cleaning and to check on the crown’s condition.
You should also remember that even though a dental crown can’t decay, the tooth beneath it can. So avoid overly sweet and acidic foods or drinks whenever possible.
Before and after crowns on teeth– want to know more?
If you have questions about crowns you need answers to, or you’re considering restoring one or more teeth with crowns, why not get in touch with the experienced team at a No Gaps dental clinic near you? We provide same-day CEREC crowns guaranteed to put a smile back on your face. Call us now on (02) 8007 6727.
References
Colgate – What is CEREC in dentistry?
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/dental-visits/what-is-cerec-in-dentistry
Dentaly.Org – CAD/CAMDenistry: What is it, and How Does it Work?
https://www.dentaly.org/us/restorative-dentistry/cad-cam-dentistry/
Healthline – How Long Can You Expect a Dental Crown to Last?
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-a-crown-last#types