Dental crowns have been available in Yuma for a long, long time. But would you believe the procedure itself has been around for a thousand years or more?
Ancient dentists used ivory, bone, and seashells to make crowns for teeth. Evidence of gold crowns dates from 200 A.D. Porcelain crowns appeared in the 1800s. With the advancement of metal casting processes in the 1900s, crown technology took a big leap forward.
A dental crown procedure consists of several steps:
Tooth Preparation
First, the tooth is anesthetized and then prepared. All decay is removed and the tooth is shaped. Usually, the dentist files off tooth structure to reduce the size and create the proper shape.
Sometimes, the tooth is too small to begin with. In that case, the dentist builds up its core with filling material to design a durable base for the crown. All-metal crowns—as opposed to porcelain crowns—have thinner sides, requiring less removal of tooth structure.
Creating a Good Impression
The dentist will use a putty-like substance to create an impression of the tooth and surrounding teeth. An impression will also be made of the teeth that oppose the crown. This ensures that the crown does not negatively affect the bite.
The Temporary Crown
A temporary crown is used to safeguard the tooth and be certain it doesn’t move in the mouth while the permanent crown is being created. Patients need to be careful with their temporary crown. It is not as strong as the permanent crown and is attached only with temporary cement. Avoid chewing gum and eating sticky foods. Be aware that the tooth may be sensitive to hot and cold.
Choosing a Color
If the new crown will be constructed with porcelain, you and your dentist will use a shade guide to select a shade for the restoration. Most patients don’t have teeth that are exactly the same color. You will need to ascertain the most appropriate shade to blend in with the surrounding teeth.
The Lab Team Works Its Magic
The dentist or a laboratory technician uses the model to build the crown. Some dentists have the equipment needed to manufacture crowns right in their office. Same day restorations are created with a machine that mills a crown from a small block of ceramic in the correct shade.
Your Crown Is Put In Place
When the new crown is ready, your dentist places it in your mouth and makes any needed modification to attain a great fit. This process shouldn’t be rushed. Sometimes less than a millimeter of drilling can make the difference between an ill-fitting crown that makes irregular contact with the opposing teeth and a crown that is accurately fitted.
The Yuma Dentist provides dental crowns and implants, along with other cosmetic and general dentistry. Call our office today for a consultation or an appointment.
Contact The Yuma Dentist:
928-783-0804
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1630 S Pacific Ave Ste 104
Yuma, AZ
85365
