Processing Prosthetics: 4 Steps to Getting a Dental Crown

Historically, dentists had to rely on silver dental crowns made from amalgam to repair damaged or decayed teeth. But today, most dentists use a more lifelike material, such as porcelain, that can be customized to match your natural enamel for seamless results that boost your confidence.

But you might hesitate to schedule an appointment if you’re anxious about the process of getting a dental crown. Continue reading to learn about the 4 steps you can usually expect your dentist to take in preparation for this standard treatment!

Step #1: Examination & Treatment Plan

If you’ve recently undergone a root canal or have suffered more severe damage or decay, getting a dental crown can help restore your tooth’s appearance and functionality in circumstances that might otherwise require extraction and replacement. But that doesn’t always mean it’s the best way to meet everyone’s unique needs.

Before proceeding, your dentist must examine your mouth and then, based on their findings, devise an appropriate treatment plan for your approval.

Step #2: Preparing Your Tooth

After your provider has confirmed that a dental crown is the best solution for your circumstances, they’ll need to remove a small amount of enamel from the affected tooth. This ensures that your restoration will fit and function properly without looking overly bulky or disrupting your bite alignment.

If you’re worried this might hurt, you can thankfully set your fears aside. This step of the process can sometimes cause sensitivity, but not usually outright pain. Furthermore, your provider will numb the area with a local anesthetic and/or offer sedation to help you feel calm and comfortable the entire time.

Step #3: Making Impressions

Next, your dentist must take impressions of your mouth to design your one-of-a-kind ceramic covering. Thanks to current dental technology, many providers use state-of-the-art equipment, such as CEREC® software, to create digital impressions that enhance patient comfort and deliver more accurate outcomes.

Step #4: Placing Your Crown

Once impressions are made, they’re sent to a special dental laboratory that uses them to design your crown or delivered to an on-site CEREC® milling machine to carve your tooth-shaped cap in the same visit as your examination. If your dentist uses a lab, they’ll likely want to place a temporary restoration to safeguard your tooth until the permanent one is delivered and can be cemented in place.

But for those receiving a one-visit crown, you can expect your provider to check that it fits correctly before anchoring it over your injured tooth. Then, they can send you home with a beautifully repaired smile!

Meet the Author

Dr. Ulysses L. Marable III has approximately 20 years of experience helping families build and maintain happy, healthy teeth and gums. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry in Augusta, and today, he’s an active member of prestigious organizations, such as the American Dental Association, so you can trust that your smile is in good hands. He offers a comprehensive menu of services, including CEREC® one-visit dental crowns, using advanced technology for more accurate, comfortable results. You can request an appointment on the website or call (478) 825-3000.