How to Prep a Tooth for a Crown

There are many reasons why your dentist may recommend an artificial crown to be placed over your tooth. Your tooth may have symptoms of decay. You may have damaged your teeth by grinding them together, usually at night. Root canal patients receive crowns to protect the tooth and prevent damage, and if more than half of your tooth is filled, a crown will most likely be recommended. Finally, a crown can sometimes be used cosmetically to enhance the appearance of a tooth. No matter what the reason, your tooth will need to be properly prepared before your dentist can place a crown.

Things You'll Need

• Anesthesia
• Dental bur
• Tray
• Impression material

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Instructions

• 1

  Expect your dentist to administer anesthesia before beginning prep for a crown. This may be in the form of a compressed gas, volatile liquid, or intravenous injection. Your dentist will decide which form is best for your individual situation.

• 2

  After the anesthesia starts to take effect, your dentist will use a dental bur made of tungsten or diamond to grind down your tooth. He'll attach the bur to a high-speed hand piece.

• 3

  Your dentist will continue to grind down your tooth until he reaches the core, which requires grinding below the gum line. Preparing the tooth below the gum line will help hide the metal margins of the crown, so your tooth looks more natural once the crown is in place.

• 4

  Once the tooth is prepared, your dentist will take an impression of your upper teeth. He'll also take an impression of the area surrounding the prepared tooth. The impressions are done by placing the impression material over the teeth, covering the teeth with a customized tray (similar to a mouth guard), and allowing the material to dry. The impressions are then sent to a lab that will create the crown. This usually takes about three weeks.