Visit Our Restorative Dentistry Office If You Damage Your Dental Crown

As a restorative dentistry office, we treat teeth that have been damaged in an accident or due to infection. We can also repair dental restorations that have become loose, cracked, or chipped. If you have received a dental crown in the past, it can last for 15 years or longer. However, they are not immune to becoming damaged. Just like your natural tooth, your crown can become chipped if hit by a fastball, a steering wheel, etc. Your crown could even become damaged if you bite on ice. If this happens, give us a call.

Signs you should visit our restorative dentistry office.

When you run your tongue along your teeth, feel if there are any rough edges or obvious signs of a crack or chip. If this is on a front tooth, you will be able to see the damage in a mirror. Your back teeth can be more difficult to diagnose, so you have to rely on feel and any discomfort. You should also watch for a crown that feels loose. This can actually be more urgent than one that is chipped because a loose crown can fall off and be accidentally swallowed.

How we can help you in our restorative dentistry office.

When you visit our dental office, we will examine your teeth and damaged crown to determine the extent of the problem. We will probably take x-rays as well since we need to determine if the damage is to your crown, the tooth underneath, or both. Your treatment plan will differ based on the answer to this question. If you have only slightly damaged your dental crown, we might be able to smooth it out and correct the damage with a bonding material. When the crown is beyond repair, we can replace it. However, if the damage is to the tooth underneath, we will most likely need to remove the crown so we can address it. This will involve removing the infected portion of the tooth. When the tooth is beyond saving, we will recommend extracting it and replacing it with either a dental bridge or a dental implant.

These two procedures can both replace the tooth, but they are drastically different in their approach. A dental bridge is a non-surgical procedure that requires two healthy teeth to be on either side of the missing one. A dental crown is placed on these two teeth to serve as an anchor to hold a new bridge and tooth in place. The result is a durable replacement tooth that looks natural. A dental implant, however, is the most durable tooth replacement option, because we surgically replace the root system as well. A titanium post is implanted under the gums and secured to the jawbone. The bone and metal fuse together through the process of osseointegration. Once complete, a new tooth will be secured to it for a restoration that is incredibly durable. Many dental implants also come with a lifetime warranty, giving you the confidence you need to proceed.

Regardless of how your dental crown is damaged or what solution is best for you, we can help.