Procedure

In the first session the dentist makes the diagnosis. After approval of the treatment and cost plan (in which the costs are listed) by the health insurance company, the tooth is first prepared in the following session. During this process, carious defects, if any, are removed with a drill and the tooth is then trimmed to fit.

Before this, an over impression of the tooth is taken so that a temporary denture can be made after the preparation. A temporary denture is a temporary tooth replacement that serves as a crown until the new artificial crown is made. Then the tooth is anaesthetized.

Once the preparation is complete, the dentist makes a temporary plastic restoration, which protects the stump well in the meantime. Next, a thread soaked with hemostatic medication is placed in the gap (sulcus) between the tooth and the gum. Sometimes this procedure can be very uncomfortable, because the thread displaces the gum and thus presses it strongly.

However, this step is important because it is the only way to take a precise impression. This can be done after about 15 minutes, when the thread has developed its maximum effect. The impression is taken immediately after the thread is removed.

In most cases, the material used for this is silicone. Finally, the bite is taken, the temporary denture is placed with a temporary cement and an impression of the opposing jaw is made with alginate. The patient is then discharged.

In the meantime, the dental technician takes impressions and takes the bite to fabricate the artificial crown. At the next appointment, the crown is tried on, ground if necessary, and finally, depending on the material, cemented or glued to the stump. Afterwards the treatment is finished and regular checks should be made.

Duration

Several dental appointments are necessary for the fabrication of an incisor crown.The diagnosis is necessary for the treatment and cost plan. This must be approved by the health insurance company afterwards, which can take several weeks. As soon as the approval has been received, the preparation of the tooth is carried out.

Preparation, impressions and the making of a temporary closure usually take no longer than three quarters of an hour. A dental technician then fabricates the artificial crown. Approximately one week after the preparation, if there is no pain, the crown can be fixed with cement. Checks should be carried out at six-monthly intervals to ensure that the tooth remains healthy in the long term.