An important requirement of a well-made dental crown is that it fits perfectly. Furthermore, the crown should look like a real tooth, in texture and color. A dental crown is made to last. Hence, the crown has to be well-built, hard and strong.

At our clinic, we take this aspect of dental crowns seriously. We want to ensure the crown is rock solid prior to certifying that it is safe for fitting. It may take days for our lab team to complete the crown. You may ask why so long. However, it is a necessary requirement because we want to be confident that the crown won't crumble after a few months. It should last years and years.

When preparing you for the crown, I need to make sure the tooth is cleaned of jagged edges, chips and stains. As I do, I also remove a little bit of your tooth's outer covering, or the enamel. You can't stay for too long without enamel, even if only some of it has gone. We need to protect your teeth from plaque-making germs. Therefore, we need to provide you with a short-term fix until the permanent crown is ready.

I'm referring, of course, to a temporary dental crown. At my New Market dental office, we can offer temporary crowns made of materials that include acrylic. I would oversee the preparation of these temporary crowns along with one of my trusted technicians.

First of all, we need to know the dimensions of your tooth. We achieve this by making a cast of the tooth in question and the tooth directly opposite it. I want to make sure that the top of both crowns are the right length so you can bite without a problem. The last thing we want is to ruin your ability to bite. You should continue eating as you pretty much wish. The temporary crowns will be built to the exact proportions of your teeth, giving you the confidence to chew with abandon.

After that, the mold is filled with the material to make the crown, ensuring the temporary dental crown fits to the exact measurements. Next, I use a powerful dental cement, which, at the same time, is not permanent. This cement helps to join the crown and the tooth together.

Now, I did tell you that you can eat what you like. But, to be safe, you should keep away from hard and crunchy fruits and vegetables. Carrots are definitely to be avoided. Also, no matter how tempting it might be, don't indulge in chewy steaks or ribs while wearing a temporary crown. If the temporary crown becomes dislodged, it could give you problems. In addition, it doesn't guarantee the same protection as a permanent crown.