A dental crown may be needed when there’s not enough tooth structure left to opt for a filling. As well, a root canal procedure must also be capped with a crown. Stanley R McCardle DMD | Family Dentistry, the leading general and cosmetic dentist in Headland, AL, makes this process easy by offering same-day crowns. Below, they explain what you can expect during the procedure.

Prepping the Tooth

First, your dentist will remove any signs of decay. If a root canal is necessary, they may wait for a couple of weeks afterward to ensure the tooth doesn’t need additional treatment. Then it’s time to file down the tooth to prep it for the crown. If there’s not enough tooth left, your dentist may need to build it up with a filling material.

After the tooth has been sufficiently prepped, it’s time to make an impression of it. Your dentist will likely do this for the opposing teeth as well to ensure a proper bite when the permanent crown is ready. The impression will be sent to a dental lab and a second appointment will be scheduled to fit the permanent crown. In the meantime, your tooth has a temporary crown to protect it. In some offices, the permanent crown is made immediately onsite.

Placing the Crown

When the crown is ready, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and check the fit of the permanent one. Then, it will be cemented onto your tooth permanently. During the last step, your dentist will check your bite and file a little off the top if necessary. Now your smile is restored to its original function.

If your tooth needs a dental crown, give the office of Stanley R McCardle DMD | Family Dentistry a call at (334) 693-2112 to make an appointment. This dental team is dedicated to providing high-quality dental care while doing the best they can to make you feel comfortable. They also offer convenient same-day crowns. Visit their website to learn more about this effective treatment.