What to expect before, during, and after dental crown placement

At Life Smiles Dental Care of Phoenix, Arizona, patients can obtain restorative solutions that can improve the smile’s function, appearance, and health. One popular treatment is the dental crown, sometimes referred to as porcelain caps for teeth. Dental crowns cover the exposed part of the tooth above the gum line, restoring teeth that might be significantly damaged from injury, decay, or disease. Drs. Paul Neilson, Timothy Schmidt and Jared Bishop are here to help patients understand how crowns work and want to expect before, during, and after their placement.

What is a dental crown?

A dental crown is a type of “cap” that covers the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies above the gum line. Once in place, the crown restores the tooth to its original shape and size while also strengthening it. Crowns can be created from various materials, including metals and porcelain-fused-to-metal, but the most common is porcelain or ceramic. These are aesthetic because they are fabricated to match the patient’s other teeth in shape, size, and color.

What to expect from your dental crown placement

If you are interested in learning more about the process of obtaining dental crowns, continue reading on to get a good idea of what to expect.

• Before placement. First, patients connect with our Life Smiles Dental Care team to find out if they are a good candidate for porcelain caps. Once it has been decided to move forward with treatment, preparations are made. The natural tooth is prepared by removing tooth enamel from around the tooth’s primary structure. Then, impressions are completed and sent to a dental laboratory for the dental crown to be fabricated by an experienced ceramist. In the meantime, our team will place a temporary crown to protect the prepared tooth.
• During placement. After the dental crown arrives back at our office, patients will come back into the practice for the placement of their dental crowns. The dentist removes the temporary crown, and the final crown is cemented firmly in place over the natural tooth structure.
• After placement. Caring for your dental crown is easy–with our team of professionals, we educate patients on maintaining their dental crown. Brushing, flossing, and regular oral hygiene habits should continue to keep the crown and other surrounding teeth healthy. We invite patients to visit our office twice yearly for a professional dental cleaning and complete evaluation to ensure their smile is free from tooth decay and periodontal disease. Most patients can expect their dental crowns to last ten years or more with proper care.

Request a visit with our team at Life Smiles Dental Care today!

Drs. Paul Nielson, Timothy Schmidt and Jared Bishop of Phoenix, AZ, are here to ensure patients have access to quality restorations with experienced providers in the community. If you are considering porcelain caps for teeth and want to speak with our dentists, call (602) 786-5484 to request a consultation visit. We are located at 4611 East Shea Boulevard, Suite #250, and accept new patients.