Are you ready to receive your new dental crown? Dental crowns are a common form of restorative dentistry—when the deterioration and general loss of the tooth's surface structure are too pronounced to be restored with a filling or composite bonding. A porcelain shell is fitted to the tooth, returning it to its former appearance and range of capabilities. You, no doubt, are looking forward to the results. So why is your dentist telling you that you'll need to wear a temporary dental restoration?

Protecting the Tooth

Temporary crowns can be a useful (and essential) part of the restoration process. It's not as though a crown is simply placed upon a tooth without any preparation. The tooth must be reshaped in order to accommodate the crow so that the finished restoration will not be bulkier than the original tooth. This involves some removal of the tooth's dental enamel — effectively shrinking the tooth. A tooth needs enamel, and even though you might only be wearing a temporary crown for a brief period (it could be as short as a few days), the temporary restoration protects the tooth during this period (when your final crown is being fabricated).

A Preview

While the temporary crown offers protection (preventing the tooth and any exposed roots from experiencing further deterioration), it also allows you to preview the finished product. The temporary restoration will not look exactly the same as your final crown but allows you to assess the approximate appearance (and dimensions) of your new crown. This allows you and your dentist to make any necessary adjustments to the final crown prior to its fitting. 

Preformed Temporary Restorations

The temporary crown is likely to be chosen from the dentist's existing stock of preformed crowns. Some adjustments will be made to the temporary crown before it's bonded to your tooth. This bonding will not be as strong as with your final crown, but this allows the temporary crown to be removed. It's likely to be acrylic or resin, meaning it's not as strong as a porcelain restoration. Some caution is advised so that you don't apply excessive pressure to the temporary crown. But in any event, this will only be a temporary concern since you may only be wearing this acrylic restoration for a matter of days.

Remember that temporary crowns are a standard step prior to receiving your final crown. As such, any costs are typically included as part of the overall fee for your final restoration.

Contact a local dentist to learn more about restorative dentistry services.