Placing a crown usually requires two visits. During your first appointment, Dr. Alexander with her dental assistant will shape the tooth and create a temporary crown that will protect your tooth while your permanent crown is created in a lab. During the second visit, Dr. Alexander makes sure that the permanent crown is seated properly and is comfortable. Then it will be cemented into place. After your first visit, your lips and gums may continue to be numb for a few hours until the anesthetic wears off. To avoid injuring your mouth, be careful not to chew on your numb lip or cheek. The second visit does not usually require the area to be numb. While a crown covers the entire visible tooth, the tooth is still vulnerable to decay and gum disease where the crown meets the gum line. For this reason, you still need to brush and floss on a regular basis to ensure that the crown and remaining tooth structure have the longest lifespan possible.