Has your dentist informed you that you'll need to get a dental crown installed? If so, you'll likely not know what is involved with the process. While a crown seems a bit scary, it is a common dental procedure that is easy to have done. The process goes quickly and only requires three steps to have done. Here is what you need to know about the dental crown installation process.

Take a Mold

The process starts by taking a mold of the tooth that the crown will go on because it needs to fit the exact shape of the tooth. Without a mold, it would be impossible for a dentist to gauge the correct size of the tooth accurately. The crown may end up being too big and not fit, or too small and leave a gap around the tooth.

Your dentist actually takes a mold that covers your entire lower or upper set of teeth, so they know the size of the tooth that's in need of a crown and the teeth that surround it. This allows the crown to be made with the precise size in mind, so it blends in perfectly.

Remove Portions of the Tooth

Placing a crown on a tooth does require removing portions of it. Usually, the tooth is already weakened due to a cavity, so removing the decayed parts of the tooth is necessary. However, it's possible that a healthy portion of the tooth will need to be removed to make the crown fit onto it. The goal is to create a structure to place the crown on that will not deteriorate underneath it.

This portion of the dental procedure will require numbing the tooth's nerves and the gums that surround it, which makes the procedure painless to you as the patient.

Place the Crown

The dentist will receive the crown from a lab once it is finished, and it will be constructed with a material like ceramic, metal, or a combination of both materials. It will have the strength and stability to withstand the pressure put on the crown through eating food. The dentist secures the crown in place with dental cement, which bonds the remainder of the tooth to the crown like glue. The dental cement also prevents food and debris from getting underneath the new crown, which could cause further decay.

If you have more questions about dental crowns, speak with your local dental crown services.