Crowns

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a cap that has been formed into the shape of the tooth and placed over the tooth to prevent any further decay or damage to it. Tooth crown materials are mixed, molded, and hardened in a lab. The crowns are then set onto the tooth and set to cover it, sealing the tooth off from the rest of the teeth.

Are there Advantages to doing a Porcelain Crown?

The color of a porcelain crown is a major advantage, as it can be tinted to match the surrounding teeth. However, keep in mind that porcelain crowns won’t respond to whitening products, so it’s important to be cautious with teeth whitening. While porcelain crowns may not be as durable as stainless steel ones, they are still strong and reliable. With proper care and good dental hygiene, a porcelain crown can last for a long time.

What Happens in a Dental Crown Procedure?

Typically, the procedure for a dental crown takes two visits. For the first visit, we must prepare the tooth. We may do X-rays as part of the preparation. We also may do an impression of your child’s mouth beforehand for a baseline. Next, we will file the tooth, removing the damage and part of the outer layer of the tooth and reshape it to receive a crown. We then make another impression of your child’s mouth. This impression is for the crown. We form a temporary crown or cap for your child’s tooth, and that completes the first visit. We send the impressions of your child’s tooth and jaw to a special lab that is responsible for creating the dental crown.

Your second visit will be scheduled for when the dental crown is completed. Your child’s temporary crown will be removed, and we will thoroughly clean and prepare the tooth. We will check the fit of the crown to the tooth before adhering it. The dental crown will be placed on the tooth and sealed.

Generally, while they have the temporary resin crown, we advise our patients to avoid sticky, sugary, chewy candies, gum, or hard foods. Minimizing the chewing on the side of the mouth with the temporary crown is also a good idea. The temporary crown is-after all-only temporary and we want that temporary crown to last until the permanent crown is ready.

Is the Procedure for a Dental Crown Painful?

Before starting the procedure, we apply local anesthesia to ensure your child feels no pain during the treatment. However, we understand that due to age, development, or anxiety, local anesthesia alone might not be enough for some children.

We will talk with you and your child beforehand to assess their emotional needs and determine the best approach for a calm, comfortable experience. We offer four sedation options in-office and are happy to discuss them and answer any questions. For more information about our sedation options, visit our dedicated page or ask us during your visit!

What is the Lifespan of a Dental Crown?

The lifespan of a dental crown varies from five to 15 years or even longer. There are a lot of factors that contribute to the lifespan of a dental crown. Proper dental hygiene, routine dentist visits for checkups and professional cleanings are all things within your control that you can do to ensure your child’s dental crown lasts a long time. Other factors that can shorten the lifespan of a dental crown include teeth grinding, gum disease, fingernail biting, jaw clenching, or using teeth to open bottles or packaging.

We want the best for your child and their dental well-being. The importance of preventative care cannot be overstated. We encourage you to develop healthy dental hygiene routines in your home, and be mindful of foods, snacks, sodas, and sugary juices in your child’s diet.