Overview
If a large portion of the natural tooth structure is diseased or missing, Dr. Hedges may recommend a crown to restore your tooth to its normal form and function. A crown is superior to a large filling for a number of reasons.
- A crown or “cap” is made by an experienced lab technician and is made to fit your tooth and your tooth only.
- A crown disperses biting forces down the axis of the tooth evenly, greatly minimizing the risk of cracking your tooth.
- Crowns are very aesthetic and can be made to match any natural tooth shade.
- It will provide the best contact between the teeth next to it, which helps to prevent food from getting stuck between the teeth which leads to pain and bad breath.
Bridges are an excellent option for replacing missing teeth. It offers a relatively quick way to replace missing teeth and has all of the same advantages of a single crown. It can be used to replace multiple teeth as long as the span of missing teeth is not too long.
Post-Operative Instructions for Fillings & Crowns
You may experience the following symptoms after your procedure:
- short, sharp, cold sensitivity
- gum soreness at the injection site and tissue irritation in the surrounding area,
- tired, sore jaw
Often, these symptoms will last 1-2 weeks. If the symptoms last longer or change in quality (become lingering or achy), please call our office to schedule a follow-up appointment.
Please note: it is not okay to have biting sensitivity or chewing discomfort. If you experience pain when eating, again, please call our office to schedule a follow-up appointment for evaluation.
To lessen your discomfort, you may take over-the-counter pain medications. We recommend 500mg of acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) and 400mg of ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) every 6 hours for 3-7 days. We also recommend that you brush with sensitivity toothpaste and rinse with a warm salt water solution 3 times per day for 3 days after the procedure.