It’s frustrating when a dental crown pops off during lunch with friends. Suddenly, a relaxing lunch is replaced with a visit to an Emergency Dentist in Providence RI. A dental crown usually becomes loose because the tooth underneath it is decaying. The decay changes the shape of the tooth and breaks the seal. The dentist will take an x-ray of the tooth to determine the extent of the decay. If the tooth root is affected, then he will have to perform a root canal. If the root area is clear, the dentist will focus on removing all of the decay from the upper portion of the tooth.
Once the bacteria and decay have been removed, the dentist will continue to use his dental drill to shape a new surface for the crown to rest on. Once the tooth has been prepared for the crown, the dentist will take an impression of the tooth and the teeth above and below it. He will then send the impression to a dental technician who will make the crown.
However, the emergency dentist in Providence RI, may be able to make the crown himself while the patient waits. Many dentists now have a milling machine attached to a computer. The dentist takes a digital photograph of the patient’s prepared tooth and the area around it. He then feeds this data into the computer and puts a piece of resin in the milling machine. The color of the resin closely matches the patient’s teeth. The milling machine creates a crown to fit over the prepared tooth and match the shape of nearby teeth.
When the milling machine is finished creating the resin dental crown, the dentist will check the fit. He will also look at the color and shading. If necessary, he can add pigments and dyes to make the tooth blend better with adjacent teeth. When the dental crown meets his requirements, he can cement it permanently into place. After a few days, the patient will be able to eat and chew all kinds of foods. If he brushes and flosses properly, the resin crown should last for many years.
