Getting Dental Crowns While on Retainers?

Question

After orthodontic treatment, I am now wearing Essix retainers. I have to get Dental crowns for two of my molars.I am stressed about not being able to wear my retainer, because the time lapse between preparing the tooth and receiving the permanent crown is around three weeks, during which the shape of my molar is altered.How can I approach this issue? How can I get dental treatment while wearing retainers?

Lance Timmerman, DMD, MAGD · Answer

The temporary crowns will be made to be very similar to the tooth prior to crowning.  Close enough that the retainers should fit fine.  The finals will be a bit more challenging, and it is possible that the retainers can be altered to fit.  If not, new ones will be needed.

Steve Alper, DMD · Answer

This is a very simple thing for your dentist to accomplish.  All he/she has to do is make the temporary, and final crown in the same shape as your existing tooth. Any dentist should be able to do this.  Just make sure to remind him before he starts the crown procedure.

Tom Hedge, DDS · Answer

For the retainers to fit, the new crown must be an exact replica of the tooth prior to the crown procedure.  This is very difficult for a dental lab to do, but not impossible.  With a CEREC CAD?CAM crown milling machine, we can make an exact duplicate by having the computer scan the tooth prior to preparation and duplicating it.

Olga Kharevich, DMD, PhD (in memoriam) · Answer

During the time when the final crowns are made in the lab, patient has the provisional crowns that should be identical to final restorations. The Essix retainer is adjusted if needed to the shape temporary restorations. The 3 week time period is not enough to cause any shifting of the teeth, so you shouldn`t be concerned about relapse. Usually central teeth have higher chances to relapse due to less bony support and that is why anterior sites are handled with more careful approach. Once you will get the final crowns the Essix retainer will be adjusted to their shape.

Getting Dental Crowns While on Retainers?

Answers (4)

Answer: Essix retainer and final molar crowns

Answer: Essix retainer and final molar crowns

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Getting Dental Crowns While on Retainers?

Answers (4)

Answer: Essix retainer and final molar crowns

Answer: Essix retainer and final molar crowns

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Everything you need to know about Dental Crown

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.