How is a crown placed?
To prepare the tooth for a crown, it is reduced so the crown can fit over it. An impression of teeth and gums is made and sent off to the lab for the crown fabrication. A temporary crown is fitted over the tooth until the permanent crown is made. On the next visit, the dentist removes the temporary crown and cements the permanent crown onto the tooth.

Onlays, Crowns or Bridges (Fixed Prostheses)

You have just had an onlay, crown or fixed bridge cemented onto your teeth.  These restorations have replaced tooth structure or missing teeth. 

Within the first 24 hours: Stay away from hard or sticky foods and candies (ice, taffy, etc).  The cement we used bonds completely within 24 hours.

What to Expect: 

1. Sensitivity:  Do not worry about mild sensitivity to hot or cold foods. It will disappear gradually over the next few weeks. Infrequently, sensitivity may last longer than six weeks.  Please call us if this occurs.
2. Chewing:  Refrain from chewing ice and other hard objects.  Sticky foods such as taffy and caramels should be avoided.  They can loosen restorations.
3. Preventive Procedures: For optimum longevity of your restorations and to prevent future dental decay and supporting tissue breakdown, please follow the preventive procedures that are checked:

___ A. Brush and floss your teeth after eating and before bedtime.

___ B. Swish vigorously for at least 30 seconds daily with one of the following fluoride products:  (1) Colgate’s Fluorigard or (2) Johnson and Johnson’s ACT. The best time is immediately before bed.

___C. Use fluoride gel such as Colgate PreviDent as you would toothpaste. (This requires a prescription from our office.)

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4. Recall Visits: By keeping scheduled hygiene visits, decay or other imperfections can be detected before they become a major problem.  Waiting more than 6 months may require redoing the entire restoration.  Inadequate frequency of professional dental examinations is the most significant reason for restoration failure.  We recommend scheduling at each visit.  If your schedule does not allow for this, our office can also contact you as a reminder to schedule.
5. ­Problems: If any of the following conditions occur, contact our office immediately to avoid further complications:

·         Restoration feels loose or comes out.

·         Sensitivity to sweet foods.

·         A peculiar taste from the restoration site.

·         Breakage of a piece of material for the restoration.

·         Sensitivity to pressure.

We have done our best to provide you with the finest-quality oral restoration available today.  However, only your continuing preventive and our professional observation can ensure optimum restoration longevity.

a tooth is generally broken down and fillings won't solve the problem. If a tooth is cracked, a crown holds the tooth together to seal the cracks so the damage doesn't get worse. Crown are also used to support a large filling when there isn't enough of the tooth remaining, attach a bridge, protect weak teeth from fracturing, restore fractured teeth, or cover badly shaped or discolored teeth.