Dental crowns can be used to restore teeth that have suffered from severe injury or decay or undergone dental procedures like root canals. These high-quality lifelike restorations are designed to cover and protect a compromised tooth and restore it to its original size, shape, and appearance. If you are scheduled to receive a dental crown, you might be wondering how comfortable the procedure is. Here’s why dental crown placements are completely painless and how any soreness afterward can be managed.
Why Are Dental Crowns Necessary?
If a tooth is severely weakened by injury or decay, a crown may be necessary to protect the tooth and restore the patient’s appearance. Dental crowns can prevent dental infections and teeth that have received them can be used to chew normally. Placing a dental crown is a completely safe and common procedure, and dental crowns can last up to fifteen years with excellent care. In some cases, dental browns are used to fix dental bridges in place to treat tooth loss.
Does Getting a Dental Crown Hurt?
Dental crowns are typically placed in two visits. Before they begin placing a dental crown during the first appointment, your dentist will numb the tooth being treated with local anesthetics. They will then remove any decayed tooth structure and reshape the tooth so it can receive the crown. Your dentist will then take impressions of your teeth before placing a temporary crown so you can get used to wearing it. Your bite impressions will be sent to a laboratory, and you will be sent on your way.
A skilled laboratory technician will use your bite impressions to create a dental crown specially designed for you. You’ll come in for your next appointment when your dentist receives it a few weeks later. There, your temporary crown will be removed and the permanent one will be fixed in place.
I’m Still Nervous About Getting a Dental Crown
If you need a little extra help to sit comfortably in the dentist’s chair, your dentist may offer sedation treatments that can help take the edge off treatment. Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is a safe and time-tested way to feel calm at your dental appointment that involves no side effects and a recovery period of only minutes. Oral conscious sedation can be used if you deal with moderate to severe dental anxiety, but you’ll need a trusted person to drive you home as the effects of the treatment fade over the coming hours.
Dental crowns are a great way to restore the appearance and function of a damaged tooth. Any lingering soreness from the procedure can be addressed with over-the-counter pain medication and will fade after a few days. If you experience worsening pain, contact your dentist.
About the Practice
Goodyear Family Dentistry is dedicated to providing the best dental care possible to the community of Goodyear, AZ. Led by Drs. Kallen Wheeler and Faby Vega, the staff ensures that each patient receives compassionate and comprehensive treatment. Areas of expertise include general, cosmetic, emergency, and restorative dentistry such as dental crowns. To learn more about what it’s like to receive a dental crown, contact the office online or dial (623) 925-8208.