Dental Crown Treatment Checklist: What to Know Before, During, and After

Before Your Crown Appointment

Before you get a crown, you should understand the reason you’re getting one. A tooth that has been cracked in an accident has different requirements than one that has simply worn down over time. Your dentist will likely examine the affected tooth and assess how well it can support a crown. They may also take an x-ray to get an idea of the internal structure of the tooth.

In addition, be sure to ask what the treatment involves before you get the crown placed. If root canal therapy or fillings are required in addition to a crown, you deserve to know ahead of time.

Your Pre-Crown Checklist

• Know the reason for your crown. Having an idea of what’s wrong makes the whole process less intimidating.

• Ask about treatment of your temporary crown. Since you’ll almost always have to wear a temporary crown while the permanent one is being made, this is important.

• Bring up any dental history and medications. If you have any unique medical history or concerns about the materials used, now is the time to ask.

• Make sure to ask about how much time to set aside for the appointment. You don’t want to go straight to work after your hour-and-a-half-long procedure.

During Your Crown Treatment

The dentist will need to prepare your tooth for the crown by shortening it. They do this by removing a portion of your tooth enamel so that the crown can sit on top of it without extending unnaturally outward. Local anesthetic is used to numb the area so that you don’t feel a thing while this is happening.

After this, your dentist will take impressions or scans of your teeth, so they can fabricate a permanent crown that fits you perfectly. They’ll place a temporary crown on you while they wait. This will need to be taken care of in the meantime as well.

Caring for Your Temporary Crown

Make sure to tell your dentist if you have problems with the way your temporary crown fits. It’s important that your teeth fit together properly when you bite them together. This goes for your permanent crown as well. It’s normal for your teeth to feel a little off at first, but you shouldn’t put this off for weeks or months, hoping it’ll get better.

After Your Crown Has Been Placed

The most important thing to do in the hours directly following your crown placement is to be considerate. Try not to bite your cheek if you’ve had local anesthetic. Once it wears off, you should test your bite to make sure everything feels good.

As mentioned above, it’s common to feel some discomfort or sensitivity following your crown placement. This usually doesn’t last long, and tends to get better as time goes on. Persistent pain and swelling, however, should be brought up to your dentist, as well as a feeling that your crown is loose.

Your Long-Term Crown Care Checklist

• Brush around your crown normally. Since you still have a natural tooth at the root of your crown, it’s important to take care of it like you would any other tooth.

• Floss around the base of your crown. It’s all too easy to trap food underneath your crown, and doing this regularly will help you avoid that.

• Keep your regular dental cleanings and checkups. With regular monitoring, any problems with your crown can be addressed before they become major issues.

• If your crown becomes damaged, don’t attempt to use glue or other dental cement to repair it. This can actually be dangerous, since it often isn’t compatible with the materials used in your crown.

The One Thing Most People Forget

Just because you have a crown doesn’t mean you can skip taking care of your teeth. While a crown itself can’t develop cavities, the portion of your natural tooth that remains will. This is why it’s so important to take care of your teeth even if you have a crown.

The Ultimate Crown Treatment Checklist

The most important thing to remember in regards to crown treatment is that knowledge is power. Understanding the reasoning behind each step of the process is important, as is knowing what to expect. In addition, knowing how to care for your temporary and permanent crowns is a must.

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