The first step in getting a crown is to numb the tooth and gum tissue around it. This makes the process painless. The weak tooth will be filed down and reshaped to fit the type of crown that will be used. If the tooth is too small for the crown because of decay or a break, the tooth will be filled in to make sure it can hold the crown.

To keep your crown in place and keep your bite from changing, an impression of your reshaped tooth and the tooth above it is made with putty, paste, or a digital scanner. A dental lab will use these impressions to make your crown, which will take about two to three weeks. During this time, the temporary crown will protect your tooth.

Permanent vs Temporary Crown

Permanent crowns are meant to last a long time. They can be made of porcelain fused to metal, all resin, all ceramic, or all metal, and they are held together with a strong cement. Temporary crowns are made of acrylic or stainless steel, and they are only meant to last for the time they are needed. The cement used for temporary placement is a weaker bonding material that is made to be easy to remove and replace with the stronger bonding material needed to attach the permanent crown.

Caring for my Temporary Crown

While you’re waiting for your permanent crown, you should try to chew with your temporary crown as little as possible and stay away from sticky or hard foods that could break or move it. You should keep brushing as usual, but be careful to slide the floss out from next to your crown instead of lifting it up and out. Most pharmacies sell temporary cements that can be used to reattach your temporary crown until your permanent crown is prepared. Relax and then let our team at Coombe End Dental take care of your long-term dental health the correct way when you need a crown or help with one you already have. We want you to be able to relax and enjoy every meal again.

For more information on crowns, please contact Coombe End Dental on 01722 341 291.