Has your dentist told you that you need to have a crown added to your teeth? Are you concerned about what to expect since you've never had to deal with this type of situation before? Having any sort of dental work done can be scary for many people due to never having had to get any major dental work in the past. But knowing about the process can make the whole situation easier to handle. While you should certainly ask your dentist if you have more questions, here are some things you may be wondering right now:

Are crowns permanent? Unlike dentures that must be removed on a nightly basis, a crown is applied to a single tooth and is held in place with a permanent adhesive. Although a crown may occasionally come loose due to unforeseen circumstances, a crown can be considered to be a permanent addition to your mouth. If you do notice that your crown seems to have become loose or has shifted position since it was applied, it's important to contact your dentist as soon as possible so that he or she can either reaffix that crown or have a new one added and apply that one instead.

How long does it take to apply a crown? In order to assure the best possible fit, crowns are typically added in two appointments. For the first appointment, the dentist will prepare the tooth and take an impression to use to mold the new tooth. He or she will then apply a temporary crown that is meant to last somewhere between a few days to a couple weeks. At your next appointment, which will be within this time period, your dentist will remove the temporary crown and apply the custom-fitted crown to your tooth. 

Is it possible to eat normally with a crown? Crowns are sometimes lumped in with dentures and other artificial teeth with people thinking that they'll be unable to eat the foods that they loved. But because a crown is permanently affixed to your natural teeth, you should be able to eat nearly anything while you have a crown. Of course, neither crowns nor natural teeth are invincible and the same kinds of things that can chip or crack a natural tooth are also likely to chip or crack a crown. For instance, if you accidentally bite down hard on an unexpected piece of bone in your food, this is something that could damage any kind of tooth.