Getting a dental crown is one of the best things you can do for a problem or damaged tooth. A dental crown (otherwise known as a cap) is a lifelike restoration designed to cover, restore and protect a tooth, sometimes saving it from extraction.
If you are considering undergoing a crown procedure but aren’t quite sure how the process works, this post will help. We’ll give you a rundown of the dental crowns procedure as a step-by-step guide, so you can see what needs to be done and when.
It’s important to note that the procedures will differ when you choose same-day (CEREC) crowns vs multi-day conventional crowns. So let’s get started.
Multi-day dental crowns using a conventional procedure
When you opt for traditional dental crowns, you can expect to visit the dental clinic at least twice.
Step #1 – Examination and tooth preparation
During the first visit, the dentist will look at the problem tooth and ascertain the best material needed. When selecting the material, specific considerations will come into play like
- The position or location of the tooth
- How much of the tooth is on display when you smile
- The position of your gum tissue in conjunction with the tooth
- The primary function of the tooth that requires a dental crown
- How much of the original tooth remains intact
- The colour of surrounding teeth
- Patient preferences, and
- Budget
Different dental crown types include:
- Ceramic
- Porcelain
- Zirconia
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM)
- A combination of other materials
Once you and your dentist have decided on a suitable material for you, they will take x-rays of the tooth.
That’s the first part of the dental crowns procedure completed. During the same visit, however, the dentist will prepare the tooth.
Tooth preparation typically involves trimming the tooth down to create an ideal base for the dental crown to sit. Remember, dental crowns are designed to cover the whole tooth, so the natural tooth will need to be reshaped for the new restoration to fit snugly. Any reshaping is done under a local anesthetic and is a comfortable procedure.
Once the natural tooth is reshaped, the dentist will then take an impression of the tooth, and any surrounding teeth, enabling the dental crown to be fabricated.
Step #2 – Fitting temporary dental crowns
The final part of the first phase of a dental crowns procedure is to fit a temporary crown. Temporaries are designed to protect the natural tooth underneath while you wait for your final restoration to be made. Remember, it won’t be as lifelike as your new permanent crown, but it is designed to allow normal eating and chewing, although you may need to exercise caution when it comes to chewy or sticky foods.
In the meantime, a temporary crown gives you an excellent chance to try it for bite and comfort, and any adjustments can be made before the permanent dental crown is attached. Once your temporary is in position, that’s your first visit completed.
The whole first visit from start to finish should not take any longer than a couple of hours. Your permanent dental crowns should take a couple of weeks to fabricate, so your dentist will call you back as soon as they have been delivered to the clinic. In the meantime, you’re free to continue your everyday life.
Step #3 – Second visit and permanent dental crown fitting
After a couple of weeks, any permanent dental crowns should be back from the dental lab and ready for phase three of the dental crowns procedure – the fitting.
Essentially, the temporary crown is removed, and the permanent restoration is placed on the tooth. The crown is then tested for aesthetics, positioning and bite. Once everything is good, the dental crown is permanently bonded to the tooth.
You may be asked to bite down to see if the new addition perfectly aligns with your opposing teeth. Once everything is good, the dentist will give your tooth a final polish and provide instructions for immediate aftercare. That’s it; the dental crowns procedure is complete. You can now walk out with a brand new smile.
Same-day dental crowns using CEREC technology
When you choose CEREC crowns, the procedure does away with the need for temporary restorations altogether.
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. It’s a bit of a mouthful, but the combination of computer-aided design and manufacturing means that any permanent dental crowns are designed, milled and fitted in the dental practice while you wait, thus negating the need for a temporary dental crown
As a result, the whole process is simplified. Here are the steps required.
Step #1 – Digital imaging
The first steps of the CEREC dental crowns procedure are the same as for the conventional multi-visit method. The dentist will examine the tooth and prepare it ready for fitting. However, the next step is different. Rather than taking traditional impressions, the mouth is scanned using a digital scanner. These pictures from the scanner are sent directly to an on-site 3D milling machine for the following stage, fabrication.
Step #2 – Milling the dental crown
Using a shade guide, the dentist will choose a ceramic block that closely matches your existing shade and inserts it into the 3D milling machine.
Using 3D printing capability, the device proceeds to cut out or mill an exact permanent restoration. This may take 1-2 hours while you wait.
Once your crown is ready, the final part of the dental crowns procedure can occur.
Step #3 – Fitting the permanent restoration
The only remaining step is to fit your permanent restoration. Because the fabrication process is utilised in conjunction with digital scans, fabrication is often more accurate, meaning a better fit the first time.
So there you have it, the dental crowns procedure for both conventional and CEREC processes.
If you’d like to learn more about dental crowns or any of the processes listed above, talk to the team at No Gaps Dental by calling on (02) 8007 6727. We have 15 convenient locations spread across the Sydney Metro area, where we provide the latest techniques like CEREC same-day dental crowns. Book a No Gaps appointment at a convenient location, and let us show you what we can do.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
AAE.Org – Root Canal Explained
https://www.aae.org/patients/root-canal-treatment/what-is-a-root-canal/root-canal-explained
Healthline.com – Temporary Crowns – Benefits, Uses And Care
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-care-for-a-temporary-crown
Colgate.com – What Is CEREC?
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/dental-visits/what-is-cerec-in-dentistry