Having a crown put on your tooth usually requires several return visits to the dentist. In reality, the physical pain of having a crown put in your mouth is no worse than having a normal cavity filled. The recovery usually takes a bit longer, but if you know what to expect, you can manage the process quite well. This article explains the entire process, so you know what to expect before going in.

The Cavity is Filled

Before any drilling is done, the dentist will take x-rays and a physical impression of your existing tooth. This will become the mold for your eventual crown. A crown is necessary when the decay has become so large that a normal filling will not work. If there is not enough of the original tooth remaining, a porcelain crown works better than filling. The dentist will still have to drill into your tooth, but will take special considerations when to shape the tooth in a certain manner. Basically, the tooth is ground down, leaving behind a small stump for the crown to sit on. This process involves an increased amount of drilling.

Although you should not feel any pain during this process, many people hate the sound and smell of the dental drill so they decide to get sedated. Otherwise, you will just have local anesthetics. After the cavity is filled on that first day, a temporary crown will be installed on your tooth and you will be sent home.

Returning for Crown Installation

It usually takes a few weeks for your permanent crown to be made. In the meantime, you will need to live with the temporary crown and try to go easy on it. Biting into hard, crunchy foods can cause the crown to get dislodged. When you return to the dentist, you will see how easy it is to remove the temporary crown. The dentist just pops it right off with a simple tool-- no numbing needed.

After that, you will receive some topical anesthetic to help with the rest of the crown installation. There might be some discomfort while the dentist works the new crown to fit the post. This usually requires a tiny bit of drilling and fine-tuning, but there should be no feeling in the tooth. Much of the drilling will actually be done to parts of the tooth that consist solely of the filling.

Finally, the permanent crown is glued on, and you are done. You'll have a nice, smooth, white tooth in your mouth that will last for many years if you practice normal dental hygiene. Contact a company like MyoTech Dental & Implant Center for more information.