Why Is Rope Tucked Around the Tooth During Crown Prep?

Crowns are used to cover teeth that are either broken, too damaged to go without or significantly worn down.

Though there are several types of dental crowns including porcelain, metal and porcelain-covered metal crowns, they all require roughly the same procedure. During this procedure some dentists use dental floss.

Using Dental Floss

The process of putting on a crown typically takes two appointments. The first appointment is used to shape the tooth to take a crown and to record the shape of the tooth. After about two weeks a second appointment will be scheduled to place the permanent crown on the tooth. Dental floss is sometimes used during the second appointment to test the fit of the crown after it has been placed on the tooth but before it has been cemented down.

Why Dental Floss?

Dental floss is used because it can get into tight spaces between teeth where the crown may not be fitting properly. This helps to make sure the crown fits soundly between neighboring teeth.

Alternatives

Dental floss is not always used to fit crowns; a dentist may instead feel it with a dental tool or ask you to bite down.

References

• Animated-Teeth.com: "The Dental Crown Procedure: What Steps Are Involved When a Crown Is Made for a Tooth?"