What To Expect When Getting A Crown
If you have a broken, chipped, or cracked tooth, you may need a crown. This is a custom-made porcelain or gold cover that sits over the top of the damaged tooth to strengthen it, protect it, and improve its appearance. Here’s what to expect when getting a crown and where to call for your next dental appointment:
Assessment
Your first appointment for a dental crown will be an assessment of your teeth to determine which type of crown would be best suited to your individual needs. You will likely need x-rays at this time to determine if there is any additional damage to the tooth's interior or the tooth roots, especially if the cause of damage was an injury or other blunt force trauma to the face.
The dentist will assess the exterior of your teeth, look at x-rays, and make a recommendation for treatment. If your dentist suggests a crown at this time, you will have a few additional steps to complete before the end of this appointment.
Impressions
At the initial appointment, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth in order to make your custom porcelain or resin crown. At Westlake Dental Associates, we offer you the comfort of digital impressions.
Digital Impressions (also known as 3-D intraoral scanning) are the latest technology in capturing a replica of the mouth. The hard and soft tissues of the mouth can be virtually recreated by a dentist utilizing wand-like equipment connected to a computer and sophisticated software. These reproductions can serve a multitude of purposes and are more exact than a traditional mold. A dentist can scan a patient's mouth and send the digital image right away to a lab so that dentures, crowns, bridges, and retainers can be created promptly and precisely. The best part? No more messy impression material or gagging!
Permanent Crown
To provide our patients with the latest and the best technology possible, we use Cerec technology at Westlake Dental Associates, which offers the ability to do same-day crowns with no return visits or temporaries. Once your crown is ready, the dentist will clean the area and apply the permanent crown, which can be either porcelain or gold.
Your teeth will be gently cleaned afterward, and you will be allowed to review the dentist’s work before leaving. Your teeth, gums, and a portion of your face may be numb for several hours on the side of your crown, but this will dissipate over time. After the crown is cemented in permanently, you can enjoy this restoration for many years to come.
Cosmetic & Family Dentistry at Westlake Dental
Westlake Dental can meet your cosmetic and family dentistry needs. Call us today to book your assessment appointment at (440) 835-8999 or email us at westlakedentalassociates@gmail.com. We look forward to meeting you!
