Crown Discussion and Consent

Nature of Crown Restorations: Crown restorations cover and protect teeth that have been weakened by decay, prior restorations, or root canal treatment. Crowns can also be placed to change the bite for cosmetic purposes. The dentist will reduce the size of the tooth, then make a mold with rubbery material, and finally place a temporary crown that will be worn while the crown restoration is being made by a dental laboratory.

The intended benefit of a crown restoration is to replace missing natural tooth structure and restore the tooth to normal function.

Alternatives to Crown Restorations: Depending on the diagnosis, there may or may not be alternatives to a crown restoration.

1. Other restorative options – onlay, veneer, or tooth colored filling
2. Extraction – The extracted tooth usually requires replacement by an artificial tooth by means of a fixed bridge, dental implant, or removable partial denture.
3. No treatment – If no treatment is chosen, the condition may worsen and there may be a risk of serious injury, including: severe pain, localized infection, loss of this tooth and possibly other teeth, severe swelling, and/or severe infection.

Risks of Crown Restorations:

• Nerve irritation/sensitivity to hot and cold
• Root canal treatment can become necessary during or after treatment
• Once prior fillings/decay are removed it may reveal a more severe condition of the tooth requiring gum surgery, root canal, or extraction of the tooth.
• Gum recession
• Sore or stiff jaw from holding open the mouth during treatment, tenderness at injection site
• Reaction to local anesthetic – allergic or adverse, or injury to nerves and/or blood vessels from the injection
• Poor eating habits, oral hygiene, and oral habits (smoking, etc.) will negatively affect how long the crown lasts.

I understand that once a crown restoration is started, I must promptly return to have the crown finished. If I fail to return to have the crown finished, I risk decay, the need for root canal treatment, tooth fracture, and loss of the tooth. I have had an opportunity to ask questions about crown restorations and their risks and discuss them with Dr. McMullin. I wish to proceed with the recommended treatment.

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