Dr. Robert Thornton is a top dentist in Tupelo. Being an expert in restorative and bioesthetic dentistry, he has extensive experience in installing hundreds of implants on dozens of patients. By giving your case in his hands you can rely on him to do what he does best – bring back smiles.

Types of Dental Crowns

There are plenty of materials that permanent crowns are made from. Some dental crown materials include:

• porcelain
• ceramic
• zirconia
• metal
• composite resin
• Stainless steel

It all comes down to what suits you best. To determine this, our doctors consider factors like the position of the tooth and gum tissue, color of the surrounding teeth, function of the tooth that needs the crown, etc. Feel free to discuss any personal preferences with us as we urge you to take part in planning your smile.

Temporary Crowns

 As apparent by its name, a temporary crown is placed in your teeth for a short period. This is stuck using an adhesive and is easily replaced with your permanent crown as soon as one is ready.

One-day Crown

Exactly as it sounds, you can get this dental crown within a single sitting. We offer a same-day installation to save you valuable time. Using the latest technological tools like CAD/CAM your crown will be milled and designed from a block of ceramic right there in the office.

3/4 or Onlay Crowns

Unlike traditional crowns, this type covers only some part of your tooth. They are recommended when your tooth structure is solid such that it does not need full coverage. In this procedure, our dentists will remove the infected part of your tooth, and reshape it to receive the crown.

The Procedure

Getting a traditional dental crown typically involves two visits to the dentist. In the first one, we examine and prepare your tooth for the procedure. Firstly, a thorough dental examination is performed to look for:

• Tooth decay
• Risk of infection
• Injury to the tooth’s pulp

In such a case, a root canal treatment is done beforehand. Then, the dentist anaesthetizes the tooth to numb the gum tissue and area around it. Next comes the reshaping of the tooth. Usually, it’s the outermost layer that gets trimmed and filed off. Using a paste or putty, we make an impression of your trimmed tooth and its surrounding areas. These are sent off to our special dental laboratories where trained technicians make permanent crowns and deliver them to our offices within 2-3 weeks. Meanwhile, a temporary crown is attached to protect your prepared tooth.

Following weeks, on the second visit, the permanent crown is installed. To make it look as natural as possible, we examine the coloring, size, shape, and overall appearance. After any tweaks and adjustments necessary, a numbing drug is again used on your capped teeth. Finally, the temporary crown is replaced by a permanent one, cemented in place.

Aftercare

After your dental crown is in place, it is crucial to take care of it. some tips for tooth crown aftercare include:

• Take care of basic dental hygiene. If you’re not in the habit of brushing your teeth twice a day, it’s time to start. Consider using a fluoride toothpaste for sensitive teeth, especially for some time after the procedure.
• Floss daily
• Avoid hard foods. Biting on hard food like bones or carrots can cause your crowns to crack, especially if they are made of porcelain.
• If you grind your teeth while sleeping, we will give you a night guard to always wear to protect your crown and surrounding teeth.

Book your appointment with Dr. Robert now if you want a dental crown.