Is Teeth Whitening Needed Before Placement of Crowns?

If you are contemplating getting a dental crown affixed, it might be a good idea to talk to the cosmetic dentist. Usually a teeth whitening or bleaching process is recommended and then the crown is placed. The main reason is that the color of the crown will need to match the rest of the teeth. Thus, if you have yellowed teeth and get the same colored crown, it is your choice but if you decide to get a teeth cleaning process conducted, the crown will stand out from the rest of the whitened teeth.

Thus, think it over and if you do not like the color of your teeth, it is better to ask your dentist to conduct a bleaching process as it will remove old stains and lighten the color. But if you are comfortable with the current tooth color, the dentist will create a similar colored crown. Once the final restoration is created, it will be permanent and color changes will not be possible.

However you don't have to be at the dentist's office for the teeth whitening procedures but can ask him about the required at-home teeth bleaching process. Custom fitted trays usually made of plastic are made for your teeth and some tubes of teeth bleaching material will be provided to you.

The dentist or the assistant will be able to show you how to bleach your teeth at home. A small amount of bleaching material is placed in the tray and then the tray is laced in the mouth such that the all of the teeth are uniformly immersed in it. Any excess amount of the bleaching material can be removed from the gums with brush or finger. Teeth whitening process is not completed in on sitting but requires 1 or 2 hours every day for over a week. The major advantage of at-home bleaching method is that you can control the whiteness of your teeth. As you are in control of the complete process, you can stop the whitening process as and when you want it.

But you need to be aware that the teeth can become sensitive during and after bleaching. Cold liquids or even air during the process can be felt on the teeth but the sensitivity will be eliminated once the bleaching process is stopped. Another aspect that you can implement is giving a break of one night in between the process or doing the teeth whitening process on alternative days. Taking a break will ensure that the teeth are not as sensitive as before.

Other than that the cosmetic dentist can prescribe fluoride gel which can be placed in the teeth tray for whitening purposes. This can help protect the teeth by sealing the tooth surface and acts to decrease the coating. However, it does not affect the color of the teeth and decreases sensitivity when you bleach. After you reach the color of your choice, the dentists wait for 3 to 4 weeks before they take a color match for crafting the crown as it takes time for the color to stabilize.

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Dental Crown Placement: It’s Easier Than You Think

Imagine having something slightly more complicated than a cavity, and its only solution is a dental crown. However, before you get too upset, consider that placement of a dental crown really isn’t that bad. In fact, it’s just one of the many things that cosmetic dentists do well.
What Does Crown Placement Involve?
Crowns are used to repair severely damaged teeth that are cracked, chipped, or otherwise broken.
Obtaining a crown means you’ll need two dental visits. During the first visit, your dentist will examine your tooth and ready it for the crown. The second visit centers on crown placement.
Visit one will involve x-rays of the affected tooth and gum to determine the extent of decay. Sometimes a crown may not be sufficient. In this case you will typically receive another procedure, the dreaded root canal. If a crown is indeed your solution, your dentist will begin by filing away the tooth’s decayed portion.
Next, your dentist will create an impression of the tooth using paste or putty. They will provide a protective temporary crown for use while your permanent crown is fashioned, a process that typically takes two to three weeks. These days, crowns are usually made out of porcelain. Porcelain resembles the texture and the color of natural teeth and is built to last a long time. However, this isn’t the only type of crown. The most frequently used materials for dental crowns are:

Porcelain-fused-to-metal

All-porcelain

Gold


During visit two, your dentist will place your permanent crown.
Waiting for Your Permanent Crown
During the waiting period, go easy on your temporary crown:

Don’t floss your teeth in an upward motion – move side-to-side instead.

Avoid “sticky” foods, such as gum and caramel.

Avoid chewing hard foods, such as raw carrots.

Chew mainly on the side of your mouth without the crown.


Problems
Once your permanent crown is placed, difficulties occasionally follow, both immediate and longer term. Most are easily remedied. Typical issues include:
· Sensitivity to hot and cold – A toothpaste for sensitive teeth may be recommended
· Pain from a too-high bite – This can be rapidly corrected at your dentist’s office
· Chipped crown – A composite resin can sometimes easily repair a chipped crown depending on the extent of the chip
· Crown falls off – Take good care of the loose crown; your dentist may be able to reseat it
· Allergic reaction to crown – Very rarely, patients allergic to the porcelain or metal used to make the crown
With good dental hygiene and lack of excessive wear from tooth-grinding, ice-chewing, or other things, a crown should last between five and 15 years.