Many people will need a dental crown to cap or cover a tooth entirely. A dental crown restores strength and structure to your tooth. Each crown is custom-designed, so it looks and feels very natural.
We might suggest you have a crown if a tooth is decayed, infected, or has suffered significant trauma, resulting in the loss of a significant portion of its structure.
What to Expect If You Need a Dental Crown?
If you need a dental crown, we must prepare your tooth before taking a detailed digital dental impression. The impression is sent to our dental lab so your crown can be made to our specifications.
Our dental lab can take two weeks or longer to fabricate your custom-made crown. In the meantime, we fit a temporary crown in Bowmanville to protect your prepared tooth.
Why Do I Need a Temporary Crown?
When we prepare your tooth, we must remove a substantial part of its structure and reshape it so the new crown can fit over it nicely. However, reshaping your tooth means removing the protective layer of tooth enamel. Without tooth enamel, your tooth feels more sensitive whenever you eat or drink, and it is more vulnerable to decay and infection.
Fitting a temporary crown protects your prepared tooth until you can receive your permanent crown.
What Is a Temporary Crown Made of?
Temporary crowns can be made from acrylic. Because they are only needed for a few weeks, they are not as durable as permanent crowns. Although a temporary crown should look pretty good, your new permanent crown will look even better.
When we prepare your tooth for your permanent dental crown in Clarington, we fabricate and fit your temporary crown using temporary cement.
What to Expect After You Have a Temporary Crown
After you receive your temporary dental crown in Newcastle, you may experience some minor sensitivity once the anesthetic wears off. This is perfectly normal, and your tooth should soon settle down.
However, if the sensitivity persists or your tooth feels more uncomfortable, please contact us at West Bowmanville Family Dental. If necessary, we can adjust the crown so it fits more comfortably. We can also check your tooth to ensure all infections and decay are removed.
How to Care for a Temporary Dental Crown
You should continue brushing and flossing your teeth as normal, including any temporary crowns. However, you must brush your temporary crown quite gently to prevent it from becoming dislodged.
Because your temporary crown is more fragile, you must take some precautions. These include:
- Avoid eating anything very sticky or hard. These foods could damage or dislodge your temporary crown, including apples, candy, nuts, and caramel.
- Avoid eating anything very hot or cold. These foods and beverages could weaken your temporary crown, increasing the risk of breaking it.
What to Do If Your Temporary Crown Falls off or Breaks
Please contact us immediately if your temporary dental crown falls out or is broken. We can usually replace it with another temporary crown until your permanent crown is ready. It’s important not to leave your tooth unprotected.
When your permanent dental crown in Courtice is ready, you can return to our dental office to have it fitted. At this stage, we can remove your temporary crown and try on your new permanent crown to check if it fits precisely. We will also ensure you are happy with its appearance before it is permanently cemented onto your tooth, completing your treatment.