While a filling or inlay can treat a small chip or fracture, a broken tooth is typically restored with a dental crown. Dental crowns are preferred when a substantial portion of your tooth is broken or damaged. Let’s take a look at dental crowns for broken tooth treatment.
What Is A Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a cap or cover that is used to encapsulate a badly damaged or decayed tooth. Dental crowns are preferred over bonding or fillings when there isn’t enough natural tooth structure available. By using a dental crown your dentist can restore your tooth to full function and prevent it from further damage or decay.
When Do You Need Broken Tooth Treatment?
Sometimes superficial or small chips in your dental enamel do not warrant broken tooth treatment. It’s always advisable to check with your dentist so you can have a professional diagnosis. If the crack or chip is large or deep, it does compromise the integrity of your tooth and can leave you susceptible to decay or further damage.
An untreated broken tooth can leave you needing root canal treatment or could cause you to lose the tooth.
How Can Dental Crowns Be Used For Broken Tooth Treatment?
A dental crown can be made out of composite resin, ceramic, metal or porcelain fused to metal. Your dentist will discuss the choice of materials with you, as this is dependent on the position of the broken tooth.
Dental Crowns: What To Expect From The Procedure
Dental crowns are usually completed in two visits to your dentist. During the first visit, your dentist may take an x-ray to make sure that the roots of your tooth are not damaged. If a significant part of your tooth is broken or has been weakened by decay, your dentist will first prepare your tooth for the dental crown. Any decayed matter will be removed and some of the tooth will be filed down to make space for the dental crown.
Sometimes it is necessary to build up a portion of your tooth so that it can hold onto the dental crown more securely.
Your dentist will make an impression of the tooth and send it to a dental laboratory. You may be given a temporary crown to wear until the permanent crown is ready.
Once it is, you will return to the dental practice for your fitting. Dental crowns are secured to your tooth using dental cement.
Sometimes dental crowns need to be adjusted a little after they have been secured in place. Your dentist will ask you to bite down and if the dental crown is too high, he or she may file some of it down.
Caring For Your Dental Crown
Dental crowns do not need special treatment but you must make sure you follow exemplary dental hygiene practices, brushing and flossing twice a day. While crowns do not decay, the underlying tooth structure is subject to decay.
To find out more about using a dental crown for broken tooth treatment please give us a call: (07) 3185 2387.
References
Repairing a Chipped or Broken Tooth
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/repairing-a-chipped-or-broken-tooth
How to Fix a Chipped Tooth
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-fix-a-chipped-tooth
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