Every tooth in a man’s head is more valuable than a diamond. ~Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish writer
A few days ago, I was brushing my teeth when I felt something small and hard in my mouth.
Fearing the worst, I spit it into the sink: yep, it was part of a filling from one of my bottom back molars.
I got into the dentist’s office that very day so he could take a look.
His recommendation?
My first crown, something tooth-colored that would cover and save my natural tooth.
When I told the Domer that night, he quipped, “Does that mean I have to call you ‘Your Highness’ now?”
HaHa, funny.
It was a week before my dentist could tackle this job. A week during which I babied my tooth, opted not to blow my flute, refused to use my electric toothbrush, and all sorts of other things I hoped would forestall mouth pain during the wait.
The day of the procedure, my dentist numbed my mouth on the side where the work was to be done, then filed away the part of my tooth preparatory to the crown installation. What was left looked like a dining table with a silver top from the filling already there.
The next step was taking digital pictures of my tooth so the new crown could be matched as to color, size, and placement.
Sometimes, dental crowns are a multi-week job, with the filing and placement of a temporary crown during the first visit and the rest of the work sometime later.
I’m fortunate. My dentist has the capability of making crowns on-site, and I got to watch the machine spinning the porcelain cube around as diamond drills filed out my crown. Then, it went into a heater, where temperatures in the super-high degree range shrank it to the proper size.
I’d planned on working on my novel-in-progress while this was taking place, but the process was so fascinating, I’m afraid I didn’t get anything done!
When the crown was ready, I was escorted back into the chair. The top tooth was filed so the new crown would fit properly, and the “tiara” was cemented into place.
Definitely NOT an inexpensive procedure, but gee, it’s kind of cool having a “white” tooth again, rather than all that silver filling I used to have.
And of course I’ll answer to “Your Majesty”!
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
““Does that mean I have to call you ‘Your Highness’ now?””
OMG, that made me laugh out loud, Debbie!
I have several crowns in my mouth, which I had done eons ago. Therefore, I had them (as well as root canals) done is stages. I think it’s awesome how they can now do most things in one procedure.
Isn’t it something how anything to do with teeth is sooooooooooo expensive?
Enjoy your crown, “Your Magesty!”
And have a super Sunday X
Thanks, Your Majesty — nice to know another royal! Yes, teeth are expensive, but so is skin. Even the tiniest of tubes for something dermatological can cost a fortune.
Thanks for dropping by — here’s to a wonderful week! xx
I have two crowns, placed after root canals. Thank goodness for modern dentistry! The procedures were expensive, and took some time, but after all the horror stories I’d heard, they were remarkably easy. It sounds like yours was, too. We’ll hope that Shakespeare’s words — “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown” — don’t hold true. Henry IV may have had some problems, but you don’t need them!
Linda, perhaps a crown on the head is different from one in the mouth?? Let’s hope so anyway! You’ve had two crowns?? Well, Your Highness, I’m delighted to hear you’re part of the club. The making of the crown was just fascinating to me — all that whirling and drilling to get it to the right shape and size. Best of all, of course, was not having to wait several weeks to get the procedure finished.
Amazing that your dentist could make the crown right there. I have had several crowns and have been pleased with them all.
Another royal?? How splendid (though I don’t imagine it was “splendid” for you, either, sitting in that chair. Took a long time, didn’t it? At least yours were done before COVID came on the scene!
Yeah The last one was in January. Had an old crown that needed repair. Was lucky
I’ve had a few crowns, and I also prefer them to the metalic look of the old filings. Sadly, the dentist who put them in had to do a temporary crown while the new ones were made, so it was a two-step (and two-visit) procedure. Glad yours went well!
Thanks for sharing this, Ann. I guess I’m fortunate in not having to endure two visits — who knew? Of course, I’d read online about the process being done in stages, but it worked so much better in just one!
I’ve not got any crowns so I guess I’m just a poor commoner, your majesty! I can see that it would have been interesting to see it all being made for you – usually we only get to see the end result. And as for the cost – hmm, you never meet a poor dentist, do you? 😉
Ah, FF, you’re so right! Our dentists manage to live in the nicest neighborhoods and drive the fanciest cars, ha! Kind of like funeral home owners. I’m glad my dentist has never pushed procedures on me though. Most of them can be steep — and who wants to sit in a chair with your mouth wide open for hours on end?!
I have one, it took several weeks between the temporary cap and the final one, but I too liked having a white tooth back there again! It’s amazing what they can do.
Thank you, Dawn. Nice to hear that you, too, are royalty!
I’ve been there Queen! And empty tooth is the worst. Losing a crown is almost as bad.
Gosh, you mean they can fall out?? Another thing to fret over. It was bad enough having it put in; I sure would hate to lose it!
Don’t worry! It is not anything you can control and it is fixable.
LOL … I have my share of crowns, and never have I thought of it in terms of royalty – so when you mentioned it, I smiled! Well, on the other hand before you mentioned crown, I wondered if an implant. Yep – I have one of those too, and am in the process of getting a second one. Oh boy!
Your Highness, I’m glad I was able to make you smile! Good luck with the implant — I have family members with those, and they’re very happy they chose that option.
Good time! Ha