Why A Dental Crown Is A Tooth-Saving Treatment
Did we recommend a dental crown during your last visit, and you have yet to receive treatment? We know that it can be intimidating when you need a treatment that you may be unfamiliar with, but we encourage you to schedule your treatment as soon as possible to avoid oral health complications. Even if we didn’t recommend a dental crown at this time, it is wise to learn about this treatment because you or a family member may need one in the future. Today, we want to take a few minutes to explain this common treatment. Read on to learn more about dental crowns.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown may seem like an intimidating treatment, but it is actually just as common as a dental filling. We perform this treatment daily in our office. A dental crown is a common treatment that involves placing a cap over a damaged, decayed, or cracked tooth to protect it from further damage and restore its function. A crown is also commonly used to complete other treatments, like a dental implant or a root canal. We may recommend a dental crown to:
- Cover a tooth after a root canal or implant
- Cover a tooth that is misshapen or severely discolored
- Replace a tooth with a large filling
- Add strength to a tooth with little structure remaining
- Fix a cracked tooth
Important Information About Treatment
A treatment for a dental crown typically takes two visits to our office. During the first visit, we remove any decay from the tooth structure. An impression of your tooth is taken for the permanent crown to be created in the lab. We then place a temporary crown that you will wear for approximately two weeks while the permanent crown is being made. It is important to avoid eating chewy or tough foods while wearing the temporary crown. During your second visit, we place the permanent crown.
If we recommended a dental crown during your last visit, we encourage you to call our office located in Watsonville, CA to schedule an appointment. Delaying a needed treatment can result in more extensive treatments and additional costs. We want to help prevent you from experiencing further oral health complications.