Crowns are a type of restoration used to repair teeth that have been damaged by extensive decay, badly cracked, or that have been treated with a root canal procedure. They are also sometimes used to repair a tooth that has received a filling, but requires additional restoration work, such as repairing a crack in the tooth. After your tooth is repaired, you will be able to eat without any noticeable changes in your tooth’s performance.
How a Crown is Placed
A crown is usually placed on your tooth in two stages. During the first stage, a mold is made of your tooth so that the replacement crown will look exactly like your original tooth and will match your other teeth, keeping your bite properly aligned. If a crown has been removed or fallen out, molds will help ensure that the replacement crown fits properly.
Your tooth is then restructured to make room for the crown. Your dentist will reshape your tooth, then place a temporary crown on it to protect it until the permanent crown arrives.
While you are wearing a temporary crown, you should be careful to avoid sticky foods or foods that are hard to chew. The temporary crown is not permanently cemented in place, so it can fall off if you eat these types of foods. If your temporary crown falls out, see your dentist right away to have it set back into place.
Eating and Chewing After a Replacement Crown
Once your permanent crowns are put into place, you can eat anything you would have eaten before you had the restoration. Crowns are made of strong materials that are designed to withstand the pressures exerted when you bite or chew. You shouldn’t notice any changes in your ability to eat after you have had a crown placed.
If you have porcelain crowns, you should avoid foods that can stain the porcelain. Unlike natural tooth enamel, porcelain does not respond well to tooth whitening, so any stains will be very difficult to remove.
Contact the office of Dr. Nicholas Kemp if you have additional questions about how to care for your crowns. Call 416-922-1012 for a consultation.