Dental Crown – Dental Cap

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown, also commonly known as a dental cap, is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over a tooth that has been damaged. A crown on a tooth restores the tooth’s original shape and size after the damage has been done.  When these caps for teeth are applied correctly, the result is natural-looking teeth in shape, color, and strength.

Why Do I Need a Tooth Crown?

Reasons for Capping a Tooth

There might be many reasons why your dentist has recommended that you need a cap for a tooth. Some of the more common reasons for needing dental caps include:

  • You have a weak tooth due to fracture or decay and a crown will help make it stronger
  • A dental cap will improve the appearance of your teeth
  • You have a tooth that was previously restored but now has chipped
  • Your tooth is falling off and needs to be replaced with a crown, which is more permanent

How Long Can I Wait Before Crowning a Tooth?

As far as how long you can wait, you’ll want to discuss this with your dentist. But, as with almost every procedure that your dentist recommends, waiting long is not the best idea. Waiting simply means that the situation will continue to deteriorate until it is fixed and at times more time in the dentist’s chair and extra cost.

If you need a dental crown implant you’ll want to make sure you have a good restorative dentist who will care about both the aesthetics and fit of your crown. Having the crown fit, sealed, and with an accurate bite are all factors that will ensure that the crown lasts a very long time.

How Long Will My Dental Crown Last?

Great oral hygiene is the main factor determining how long your dental crown will last. With great care, some caps will last 25 to 30 years. However, the average life of a tooth crown is 15 years. Create good oral habits right away. For one, make sure that you continue brushing at least twice a day. Other good habits include flossing once a day and going to your regular dental check-ups and cleanings.

Getting Teeth Capped – The Process

Getting a crown involves two visits to our dental offices here in Tacoma.

Why Choose South Sound Dental in Tacoma For your Dental Crown?

South Sound Dental in Tacoma is one of the highest-rated dental offices for getting this procedure performed. We are experts at performing this procedure. Award-winning and highly reviewed there is no better place in Tacoma.

First Visit

  • The tooth and surrounding gum are numbed
  • The tooth will be filed and shaped down to make room for the crown
  • A paste is used to get an impression of the tooth
  • A temporary cap will be put in place until your next visit

Second Visit – Two Weeks Later

  • After the custom crown is manufactured, your dentist will make sure the crown fits properly
  • Your dentist will check the color, and make sure that your bite is right
  • The new crown will be permanently cemented into place

Steps Involved In Getting a Crown

If it is determined that you need a dental crown, you’ll usually book two later visits to the dentist. The first visit involves the preparation of the tooth and a temporary crown and the second visit is for the placement of the permanent crown.

On your first visit, the dentist will numb the tooth and surrounding gum tissue. Next, the tooth will be filed down to make room for the crown. A paste is then used to make impressions of the tooth that will be receiving the crown. The tooth above or below also receives paste to fit against the new tooth and doesn’t affect your bite. Also on this first visit, a temporary crown will be made and secured in place using temporary cement.

What Happens if You Lose a Crown or Have Other Dental Crown Problems?

Don’t panic, and schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over a damaged tooth.  Crowns restore a tooth’s original shape and size after the damage has been done.  When applied correctly, the result is a natural-looking tooth in shape, color, and strength.  With this said, there are times when a crown may come off for one reason or another.  This is often not an emergency, however, if it happens you’ll want to get an appointment with the dentist as soon as possible.

When a crown comes off, the tooth is often sensitive to temperature and pressure and thus the experience can be painful. 

Because of this, along with the fact that you won’t want to cause further damage, you should set an appointment right away for repair.

Before Your Visit

  • To relieve any pain you can purchase some clove oil from a drug store or grocery store to apply to the sensitive area.
  • If you still have the crown you can also attempt to temporarily put it back on.  You’ll want to clean the tooth, coat the inside of the crown with dental cement for a crown or tooth cement, and place it back on the tooth.  Tooth cement can be found in the dental section at a pharmacy.  Some need to be mixed and some don’t.  If you can’t find tooth cement you can also use denture adhesive or petroleum jelly.  DO NOT USE HOUSEHOLD GLUE.
  • If you lost the crown you can put the dental cement directly onto the tooth to seal it before your visit.

At your dental visit, the dentist will often need to prepare the tooth again due to a change in the shape of the tooth.  This will ensure that the crown fits well and does not come off.

How Much Does a Dental Crown Cost?

Depending on your insurance provider, a dental crown can range in price from almost no out-of-pocket expense to several thousand dollars. It is best to get your tooth examined and look at insurance options available to you. Call the office and we will be happy to assist you.

 

Patient having a dental crown procedure done