If you are thinking about having one of your teeth restored with a dental crown, you probably want to know how many dental appointments are needed during the treatment. Crown preparation and fitting typically take two dental appointments. This article covers what happens during these dental visits.

Procedure for dental crowns

Preparing the teeth, fabricating the reconstruction, and placing the crown are all part of the crown procedure. The procedure is divided into two visits.

The first dental visit

The first dental visit involves teeth preparation for the dental crown. Before a crown can be mounted, teeth shaping is required, which involves filing off the affected region and a layer of healthy tooth structure. The amount of tooth structure removed is determined by the tooth's position and the crown material. The dentist will use filling material to shore up the tooth surface if the tooth lacks a healthy tooth structure to hold the crown. The dentist will then take tooth impressions, which are forwarded to a lab that will fabricate a personalized dental crown. To protect the tooth while waiting for the complete permanent crown, the dentist will place a temporary crown on it. The dentist will give you advice on how to care for it.

This first visit often lasts between 60 to 90 minutes. Many patients, on the other hand, are finished in less than an hour. The amount of time is determined by the patient's requirements. Patients who need their teeth structure rebuilt, for example, should expect to be there for more than an hour.

The second visit

A dental laboratory takes about two weeks to complete dental crowns and send them to the dentist. Patients will return to the office for a second appointment once the crown is complete. The dentist will take out the temporary crown and clean the tooth thoroughly. The dentist then assesses the crown's fit. After putting the crown on the tooth, the dentist will check the match using specific dental tools. The dentist might perform flossing to remove particles between the crown and other teeth for a snug fit.

The dentist can use a drill to adjust the crown if it does not fit correctly. The fit will be double-checked until the crown snugly fits over the tooth. The dentist then uses dental cement to affix the crown to the tooth, a task that takes about 20 minutes to complete. However, if the dentist has to make multiple adjustments to achieve the correct fit, it may take up to 30 minutes.

You should prepare to schedule two visits if you require a crown. During the first visit, the dentist can prepare your teeth and make an impression. You will return and have the crown installed and positioned when it is ready. The dentist will ensure that the crown does not affect the bite and is comfortable to wear. If you are prepared to change your smile, book an appointment today.