How is my tooth prepared for a dental crown?
You will typically have two visits to the dentist to prepare for a dental crown. In some cases, you can have a dental crown made at your dentist’s office.
a. The first visit
During the first visit, the tooth that will receive the crown is examined and prepared. X-rays of the tooth and the bone surrounding it are taken. Your dentist may need to perform a root canal prior to the dental crown procedure, if any:
Tooth cavity.
Infection risk.
Injury to the tooth pulp.
The pulp is the soft tissue inside the teeth that contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue.
The tooth that will receive the crown is ground down on the top and sides. This creates space for the crown itself. The number of teeth to grind depends on the type of your crown. Metal crowns are thinner and do not require the removal of as much tooth as porcelain or metal-fused porcelain crowns. If a lot of your tooth is missing – due to damage or decay – a filling material can be used to ‘build up’ enough tooth structure for the crown to cover it.
After the tooth is reshaped, a paste or putty is used to make a copy (also called an impression) of the tooth that is to be crowned. Impressions of the teeth above and below the tooth that will receive the dental crown are also taken. This is done to ensure the crown does not interfere with your bite. The impressions are sent to a dental laboratory. The lab fabricates the crowns and usually ships them back to the dental office within two to three weeks. During this first office visit, your dentist will fabricate a temporary crown to cover and protect the prepared tooth while you await your permanent crown.
