Fractured Teeth Repair

The most common way to treat fractured teeth is with dental intervention. Common treatment modalities include restorative “filling” treatment and crowning or prosthodontic treatment. Crowns, also commonly referred to as “caps,” are made of synthetic materials like porcelain/zirconia/ceramics that are placed on top of a tooth. These help restore the functional ability of a tooth after it has been affected and provide it additional protection from future fractures. A tooth can be weakened through the processes of dental tooth decay, blunt trauma and root canal therapy to name a few. Crowns, in addition to extension to supporting teeth in dental bridges and restoring surgically placed implants, prevents further damage to teeth and provides both improved biting ability and esthetics.

What is the procedure for dental crowning treatment?

A tooth has to be clinically prepared by a dentist in advance before receiving a dental crown. Preliminary impressions are taken of the untreated tooth prior to its dental preparation. The appropriate type of crown material and crown design are selected, followed by an impression being taken of the treated tooth. This dental impression is then sent to a dental laboratory to create a custom designed crown. A temporary crown may be applied in some cases before the final crown is put into place. Remember that crowns are different from dental veneers, which serve largely an esthetic purpose.

How to care for crowns?

Since crowns are made of synthetic substances and are custom designed, they can last for several years with proper maintenance. No special products or solutions are required for maintenance, other than appropriate care that includes regular flossing and brushing. Certain habits like bruxism or teeth grinding and jaw clenching can impact the life of crowns. Porcelain fractures can commonly occur under these conditions, as excessive grinding forces may cause flexing in the crowning materials and result in future fractures. Whilst this does not necessarily indicate that the crown would need to be replaced, the underlying rough metal can become exposed, resulting in an area for food impaction, bacterial accumulation and unesthetic appearance and rough feel. Eating sticky and sugary foods, staining foods, and hard products like ice or candy damage the grip of the crown, resulting in the crown loosening or even decementing all together and becoming dislodged.

To find out whether you are a candidate for crowns or not call our office TODAY at 905-453-7777