If you grind your teeth at night without the protection of a dental guard or if you have a habit of using your teeth to open packaging, you are at increased risk of suffering a chip or dental fracture. If this occurs on a critical biting surface, the tooth might not be viable for repair by a simple filling.
To effectively treat a tooth in this condition, Dr. Jeffery Carver will typically recommend a dental crown restoration. This will completely replace the entire tooth enamel layer with a replica cast from a material such as gold, base metals or dental-grade porcelain.
Your dentist will start by numbing the tooth, using a drill to remove the tooth enamel, and forming an abutment. This will later anchor the crown in your mouth. Our team will then create an impression of the area, which will be sent to a dental lab where your new crown will be made.
A temporary crown will be secured over the abutment to protect it. It’s important to keep in mind that the temporary crown is not a fully functional tooth. The hard, plastic cap is only meant to protect the abutment while you await the completion of your crown.
We will call you back for the second appointment after the dental lab technician has completed your crown. Your dentist will then use a dental-grade adhesive to secure the new crown onto the abutment.
If you live in the Lake Havasu City, Arizona, area and you have chipped or fractured a tooth, you should call 928-855-5042 to schedule an appointment at Quail Ridge Dental.