Easy lies the tooth that wears a crown!

A LIGAMENT tear following a fall forced Trisha to take bed rest for nearly 6 weeks. The aching leg apart, she was confused as what next to do about a broken tooth which did not give toth pain but conceivably distorted her once perfect smile. Her answer lay in dental crowns.

What are dental crowns and when do you need them?

A dental crown (or a cap) is a form of dental restoration which cups over the portion of a tooth which lies at and above the gum line. In Comparison, dental fillings are used to fill in or cover over just a portion of a tooth, whereas a dental crown encases the entire visible aspect of a tooth and in effect becomes the tooth’s new outer surface.

Dental Crowns are used to

l. Restore tooth to its original shape

When teeth are fractured or get worn out, they are invariably subjected to sensitivity. Dental crowns rebuild the original contour where dental fillings do not serve the purpose.

2. Strengthen weakened teeth

The dental crown when cemented to the tooth acts as a splint thereby strengthening root canal-treated teeth and large portions of teeth destroyed by tooth decay.

3. Improve cosmetic appearance of teeth

Dental crowns are often used to mask misshaped teeth like ‘peg laterals’, discoloured teeth, stained or fluorosisaffected teeth. The denal crowns are made of gold alloy, metal alloy, porcelain or a combination and are fabricated outside the mouth and are then cemented onto the particular teeth.

Consequences of not placing a dental crown

1. The tooth cracks

2. The tooth becomes sensitive

3. The tooth breaks

Steps involved in the making of a dental crown

It takes two appointments for a dentist to make a dental crown for a tooth

I. The first appointment :
1. The tooth and gum tissue surrounding it is numbed by local anaesthesia.

2. Tooth structure is adequately reduced and shaped to accommodate the dental crown on it so that it is not oversized.

3. An impression is taken by way of making a dental mould of the tooth using an impression material which is then sent to the lab to create a plaster cast of the teeth. A dental technician will fabricate your teeth crowns so it fits accurately on the plaster cast.

4. It generally takes about 3 to 4 days for the dental crown to be fabricated at the lab. So a temporary teeth crown usually made of plastic is made in the lab. The temporary teeth crown is fixed with a temporary cement so that it can be easily removed.

5. For porcelain (ceramic) crowns, the shade that closely matches the tooth’s neighbouring teeth is selected with the help of a shade guide.

II: Second appointment

The permanent dental crown is ready. The temperary teeth crown is now removed and the permanent dental crown is first seated in place to evaluate the fit and bite. Dental cement is then placed inside the dental crown and then seated over the tooth. After a few moments the excess cement is scraped away.

The placement is now complete.

1.The after mathl. It is sensitive : Sensitivity to beverages hot and cold at the edge of the gum line may be present for which a potassium nitrate containing toothpaste will be prescribed by the dentist and will take care of the problem.

2.The bite seems off : The bite may not be as comfortable as before as a new object has been placed in the mouth and you feel very conscious of it in the beginning. But adjustments with a dental tool will be made by the dentist until the patient is comfortable with the bite.

3.The dental crown has come off: Inform the dentist immediately (so you don’t end up swallowing it!) and the crown can be recemented.Dental crowns are by far the most effective and permanent remedy for discoloured, misshapen, weakened and fractured teeth for which dental fillings, veneers, teeth whitening do not help. “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown” said Shakespeare but easy lies the tooth that wears a dental crown!!