But, in some cases, people who have broken teeth don’t ever experience pain.
Does that mean that people should consider dental crowns for repairing damaged teeth only if they’re experiencing pain?
Absolutely not!
Repairing a damaged tooth should happen as soon as possible. Why?
Why You Should Consider Repairing Damaged Teeth with Dental Crowns
What kind of damage warrants dental crowns?
A patient needs a dental crown if they have one or more teeth that have:
- A crack
- Fractured
- Had or need a root canal
- Excessive decay.
What causes such breakdown?
There are a number of reasons.
Someone can bite down on something hard and crack or break a tooth.
Tooth damage can result from an accident.
With excessive decay and/or large silver (amalgam) fillings, the tooth is at risk of fracturing or needing a root canal.
Even a misaligned bite can lead to damage. There is disproportionate force on adjacent teeth because of the misalignment. Eventually, this can lead to cracking or breaking.
Why is repairing damaged teeth with dental crowns so important?
First of all, a person can experience cracked tooth syndrome (CTS). This causes sensitivity or pain whenever a person puts any pressure on that tooth. The only way to reduce the pain is to support the crack with a crown.
Teeth that have had large fillings, a lot of decay, or root canal treatment can easily break. A crown will protect the remaining tooth structure.
Repairing Damaged Teeth: The Dental Crown Process
What can a person expect from the crown appointment process?
The patient needs to see their dentist for two appointments.
First, the dentist prepares the tooth for the crown by removing decay as well as some of the remaining tooth structure. The dentist basically makes the tooth shorter and skinnier in order for the crown to fit over the tooth.
The dentist takes an impression of the tooth and sends it to a dental lab to fabricate a custom crown. While waiting for the gold, metal, or porcelain crown, the dentist will make a temporary crown out of a strong plastic material.
The second appointment is the crown delivery appointment. The dentist removes the temporary crown and tries on the permanent one. If necessary, the dentist will make some adjustments to the crown to ensure that it fits properly. Once it does, the crown is permanently cemented or glued to the tooth.
Improve Your Overall Oral Health by Treating Damaged Teeth
Fixing cracked or fractured teeth can have an impact on a person’s overall dental health.
Repairing damaged teeth can reduce the likelihood of damaging the roots of the teeth. It can also take bite force pressure off of other teeth. It can even prevent tooth loss due to decay. Additionally, repaired teeth are easier to clean.
Anyone who has damaged teeth should consider investing in dental crowns. Doing so is not only aesthetically pleasing – it can protect the rest of your mouth from further damage.
Do you have damaged teeth? If so, please contact Dr. Westman’s office to schedule an appointment. We’ll discuss various options for treatment and see which fits your needs the best.