What to Expect from the Porcelain Crown Procedure | Sarasota, FL
When a cracked tooth makes you nervous about biting down on hard foods or a discolored tooth makes you self conscious about smiling, it's time to visit our Sarasota, Florida, office to consider inserting a porcelain crown. Just as you may apply a concealer to cover up a skin imperfection, you can cover up tooth imperfections with pieces of porcelain formed to fit your mouth, delivering the appearance of a healthy tooth. We can do this for individual teeth or multiple teeth, and we may also consider adding a bridge to fill in gaps caused by missing teeth.
This process is safe and pain is minimal, but what can you really expect?
Consultation & Preparation
Every crown procedure starts with a thorough examination. This is an important step which allows us to consider all possible solutions to your problem before determining that a crown is the best way to improve your smile. We will consider the strength of your teeth, the health of your gums, and other factors before presenting your options.
If a crown is determined to be your best option, we will form your tooth so that it is the appropriate size to accommodate the crown. Depending on the condition of your teeth, this will involve either filing the tooth down to a smaller size or using filler to increase its size and achieve the best shape. We will then create a mold of the tooth and surrounding teeth so that an outside lab can customize the crown. We'll install a temporary crown before you leave the office.
The Crowning Process
Your customized crown has been delivered to our office, and you're sitting in the chair eagerly awaiting your smile transformation. We start by making you comfortable and answering any questions that may linger in your mind. We may use a local anesthetic to control pain, or you may opt for general anesthesia to ensure you aren't aware of the work taking place. You may choose a different pain control option depending on the number of crowns installed and your pain tolerance, so we'll discuss all of your options with you during your initial consultation.
The procedure requires our experienced cosmetic dentists to adhere the crown to the teeth, securing it so that you can eat, drink and laugh without concern of it loosening or falling out. The process may take less than an hour for a single crown or several hours for multiple crowns.
Post-Procedure Recovery & Adjustment
Once the anesthesia wears off, you may feel some tenderness in your gums or jawline. While most people consider the pain minor and take over-the-counter medication for comfort, you may experience more pain if you require a root canal prior to placing the crown or have tooth damage close to your tooth nerves.
The biggest adjustment you may experience is looking in the mirror and loving your smile. The flaws that you once focused on are gone, so you can show your teeth without wondering what others think about those imperfections.
Long-Term Care
Treat your porcelain crowns just as you would your natural teeth. You can protect them from chips, cracks and breakage by being cautious when biting into hard foods. It's also important to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and floss at least twice a day to ensure food isn't left between your teeth, plaque is eliminated, and your gums remain healthy. If you don't follow these basic steps to care for your teeth, your crown may loosen or fall out in the future.
Are You Considering Porcelain Crowns?
Now that you know what to expect from the dental crown procedure, contact us to schedule your initial consultation. We can't wait to give you the smile that you deserve.
