While your tooth enamel is very hard, it is not completely impervious to damage. Grinding your teeth, a blow to the face, or chewing on objects like pencils and pens, all have the potential to fracture tooth enamel.

 

When this happens the natural bacteria in your mouth are quick to exploit the exposed area, encouraging tooth decay to set in. Small fractures and chips can sometimes be repaired by a filling, but if the fracture compromises a significant amount of tooth enamel, Dr. Powell might recommend replacing all of the enamel with a crown.

 

At your first appointment, our dentist will numb the area and use a drill to remove all the tooth enamel. This leaves behind an abutment containing the dentin, pulp, and root of the tooth.

 

They will then form a detailed impression of the area to serve as a guide for a dental lab that actually creates the final crown. At the end of the appointment, a temporary crown is secured over the abutment to protect it while the permanent crown is created.

 

When your new crown is ready, we will call you back in to have the temporary crown removed and the permanent crown cemented in place.

If you have recently fractured or chipped a tooth, you should not delay in contacting West Jordan Dental Office  to explore your treatment options.