Front Tooth Crowns Treatment Timeline: What to Expect

The First Appointment Sets Everything Up

At the initial examination, your dentist will conduct a cursory inspection of the tooth, and take X-rays if necessary to assess the interior structure of the tooth. They will want to understand the circumstances of the affected tooth before any reshaping begins, particularly if the tooth has a large filling or is otherwise compromised.

Preparing the Tooth

The dentist will remove a minuscule amount of enamel to allow the crown to fit snugly without applying excess pressure. Due to the prominent location of front teeth, the shaping is particularly important for cosmetic reasons. Similarly, your dentist will take care to match the shade of your existing teeth before placing the temporary crown.

The Waiting Period Feels Longer Than It Is

The dental lab requires a period of time to fabricate the permanent crown. This process can take anywhere from one to two weeks, with some facilities offering expediting for an additional fee.

Meanwhile, you will need to take special care not to damage the temporary crown. Avoiding sticky foods is an obvious measure, but a less obvious consideration is that temporary cement is not designed to last. If the temporary crown feels loose in any way, contact your dentist immediately rather than attempting to adjust it yourself.

What Happens During the Waiting Period

• A temporary crown is placed so that the affected tooth is not left completely exposed

• There may be a degree of sensitivity, but this should dissipate after the first few days

• Brushing as normal should be fine, but flossing should be limited to avoid dislodging the temporary crown due to sudden pressure

The Final Crown Appointment

This is typically a relatively quick appointment where the temporary crown is removed and the fit of the permanent crown is evaluated. Your dentist will check for proper occlusion as any irregularity can be downright grating to the tongue.

Crowns on front teeth in particular should receive special scrutiny since they are meant to look like natural teeth.

Your dentist may make minor adjustments to the permanent crown before permanently attaching it. In this regard, it is worth noting that a front tooth crown will necessarily look natural in most cases since the dentist will have taken great care to shape it like a natural tooth.

When the Waiting Period Gets Longer

• The usual waiting period is between two and three weeks for a simple procedure, assuming that the dentist can begin the process immediately

• Root canal treatment and other procedures may be required before a crown can be placed, extending the timeline considerably

So How Long Does It Take to Get a Crown?

A basic front tooth crown typically requires an initial examination and reshaping followed by a waiting period before the final fitting. The actual fitting itself is a brief procedure, but the entire process can take several weeks due to the fabrication process.

Crowns generally do not require special care, but front tooth crowns in particular will need to be treated gently for the first few days. Any problems with the temporary crown should be raised at the earliest convenience since the next step cannot take place until this stage is complete.

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