However much you want one, dentists can’t place a dental crown at once. They first need to prepare your tooth so the final cap will fit. Still, what if you don’t know how dentists prep teeth for crowns? You’ll feel unsure of how treatment works in that case. Luckily, your Slidell dental practice can explain how this prep work goes. Here are the steps a dentist takes to prepare your tooth for a dental crown.
Start With an Oral Exam
For starters, the dentist will give you a close and thorough oral exam. This assessment will evaluate the problem tooth and the area around it.
The specifics of this exam can vary. Of course, it’ll include the dentist’s personal look at your pearly white. However, it may also feature dental X-rays of the tooth. These images can give the dentist a better view of the dental roots and the surrounding bone.
Apply Some Anesthesia
Before crown work, your dentist will also prep you by applying anesthesia. They’ll inject this agent into your gum to ensure you don’t feel pain.
Indeed, this numbing process is crucial to treatment. The dentist can’t adjust your tooth for the crown if you’re in pain. Your discomfort would distract them and delay their efforts. So, injecting an anesthetic makes treatment smooth for you and your dentist.
Shave Down the Tooth
Once the treatment site is numb, your dentist will shave down the affected tooth. This step ensures the final crown will fit correctly.
Remember, your tooth is damaged or decayed. That means it’s likely uneven and not the right shape for your crown. Therefore, its outer layer must be filed and shaved down. Only then will the tooth be small and smooth enough for the crown to fit on top of it.
Take an Impression
For the last stage of “crown prep,” the dentist will take an impression of your shaved tooth. The resulting model will allow them to craft and cement the final restoration.
This impression’s role will change based on the type of crown you get. If the cap is standard, the tooth model will be sent to a lab that crafts your prosthetic. For a CEREC same-day crown, your dentist will use the impression to create and cement the crown during the same visit.
You won’t have to worry about treatment once you know how dentists prep teeth for crowns. You can attend your dental visit calmly and confidently!
About the Practice
Camellia City Family Dentistry is based in Slidell, LA. Led by Dr. Tomaszewski, our practice seeks to give patients the best dental care possible. So, we offer customized options that span preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency services. Our dental team is ready to give everything from dental checkups to dental crowns. For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (985)-641-4444.
