What Will Happen If You Wait Too Long To Get A Dental Crown?

A dental crown is the last remedy in saving a severely damaged, discolored, or decayed tooth. Unlike alternative treatments like fillings, bonding, and veneers, a crown covers the entire structure of the damaged tooth. Once bonded to the tooth, it looks, feels, and functions like your natural teeth. It also protects the natural tooth against further damage.

A crown is often used in conjunction with a root canal or dental filling when used to repair tooth damage. Apart from saving a tooth, a crown supports a traditional bridge or a dental implant. Schedule an appointment with our dentist in Merrimack, NH, for professional help if you’re considering a dental crown treatment.

Who Needs a Dental Crown?

Your dentist might recommend a crown in the following situations:

• To strengthen and protect a tooth with a large or old filling
• To save a severely decayed tooth
• To fix dental damage like cracks, chips, fractures, and breaks
• To improve the aesthetics of a misshapen tooth
• To complete a dental implant
• To support traditional or cantilever bridges
• To protect a worn-down tooth
• To enhance the appearance of a severely discolored, stained, or yellowed tooth
• To protect and strengthen a tooth after a root canal treatment

What to Expect When Getting a Crown

Generally, getting a dental crown takes two appointments. Before placing a dental crown, the dentist will examine your teeth to determine whether a dental crown is right for you.

The dentist begins by numbing the area around the treatment area to keep you relaxed and pain-free when placing the crown. If the tooth is infected, the dentist can perform a root canal and dental filling before placing a crown. Next, the dentist will shave the tooth’s enamel to allow the crown to fit perfectly.

If there isn’t enough structure, the dentist can rebuild the tooth to provide adequate structure for the crown to hold on properly. Impressions and records of your teeth and mouth are taken and sent to a dental lab to create the customized crown. A temporary tooth crown protects the prepared tooth. Once the customized crown is ready, the temporary crown will be removed and replaced with the permanent one.

Why you shouldn’t wait too long to get a crown

Some patients ignore dental issues until they experience severe symptoms like pain. Unfortunately, delaying treatment only makes the damage worse. Even though a crown is highly effective, it still requires sufficient structure for the crown to hold on.

Similarly, delaying treatment also causes the need for additional procedures. For instance, if the damaged tooth develops decay, you’ll need a root canal to remove the infected pulp tissues. A filling procedure is necessary to fill the empty chamber caused by the root canal treatment.

Lastly, the dentist will recommend a tooth extraction if the tooth’s damage is too significant to repair with a root canal, dental filling, or dental crown. Later, you can replace the tooth with an implant or bridge.

Why you shouldn’t wait too long to get a permanent crown after treatment

After a root canal treatment and other treatments, you’ll need to wait for a few weeks to get your permanent crown. The dentist will place a temporary crown to protect the treated tooth in most cases. Ensure your temporary crown is in perfect condition until it’s replaced with the permanent crown. A damaged temporary crown puts you at a greater risk of developing an infection in the underlying tooth.

Also, if you wait too long to get a permanent crown after the initial treatment, there’s an increased risk of a bacterial infection. In such a case, you might need root canal retreatment to remove the infection again before placing a crown.

Schedule an Appointment Today

For more information about dental crowns in Merrimack, NH, contact Yelena Popkova, DDS, to book your appointment.