A dental crown is just like a cap that is put on a chipped or broken tooth to restore its shape and size. Apart from that, this tooth-shaped cap also protects the tooth from further damage. The dental crown procedure is simple and the dentist uses anesthesia to numb the tooth. So, it will not cause any pain. However, as the anesthesia wears off, there will be sensitivity in the tooth and the area around the tooth. Although the option of the same day crowns is also available to patients, in this article, we will cover the temporary crown. Before the same day crowns, usually, it used to take two to three weeks to make and deliver permanent.
During this period of time, the patient is provided with a temporary crown. The temporary crown does not look as natural as a permanent crown or natural tooth. However, the patient can eat and speak normally. The dentist uses an easy to remove temporary cement to fix the temporary crown.
Dental Crowns
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), patients with badly shaped, discolored and weak tooth can go for crowns to get an attractive fix. The dentist can recommend a dental crown procedure when the patient has a little or no tooth left in the mouth.
The dentist fits the temporary crown at the first or second appointment. First of all, the dentist will take an X-ray of the affected area. After that, the dentist will treat if there is any lingering decay. The dentist fills down the natural tooth over the sides and top to create room for the permanent crown. After taking impression of the tooth and the dentist sends it to a dental laboratory. The lab technicians take two to three weeks to create a permanent crown. The temporary crown is used during these two or three weeks. The dentist replaces the temporary crown with the permanent crown during the second and usually the final visit.
Temporary vs permanent crown
There are some differences between both types of crown. A temporary crown lasts only a few weeks. On the other hand, if the patient is taking the best care of the permanent crown, it can last 5 to 15 years.
Metal or plastic are commonly used to make temporary crowns. Porcelain bonded to gold or high-grade porcelain are used for making permanent crowns. The cement used for fixing a temporary crown is easy to break as the dentist needs to remove the temporary crown and attach the permanent crown. Zinc oxide-eugenol cement made from eugenol, zinc oxide powder and olive oil is used as an adhesive for temporary restoration. In the case of permanent crowns, long lasting and tough resin-modified glass ionomer and glass ionomer cement are used.
Taking care of temporary crowns
Don’t eat anything for the next 30 minutes after getting a temporary crown attached. Avoid eating sticky foods. You can brush your teeth with normal fluoride toothpaste. Removing temporary crown might not only change the position of natural teeth but this will also expose teeth to decay.
If there is dentistry in your neighborhood offering same day crowns, see a dentist there.