Chipping or breaking teeth is a common occurrence among active people around the world. Broken teeth can happen for a variety of reasons. One of the most common causes of chipping or breaking one’s teeth is due to sports-related accidents.
Biting on hard substances, such as an ice cube or opening a bottle cap with your teeth are also other well-known causes for breaking or chipping of teeth. The enamel is the hardest part of the human body. However, even the enamel can break when you push the limits.
According to the American Association of Endodontists, a tooth with a crack can become painful. The pulp inside the tooth contains blood vessels and sensitive nerve endings that cause pain when exposed. However, a tooth with a crack may not always result in pain. Some may only experience pain while drinking or chewing.
A dental crown procedure is a common solution to safeguard broken teeth from further damage. This article will shed light on whether dental crowns can repair a chipped or broken tooth.
Do Dental Crowns Repair Chipped and Broken Teeth?
Daily oral routine and the food you eat can have a massive impact on the strength of your teeth. Eating plenty of sugary food and junk food can degrade your oral health and can cause an unhealthy environment for bacteria to thrive. A weak tooth has a greater chance of experiencing chipping or breaking.
If your teeth have become broken or chipped, consult with your dentist as soon as possible to get a diagnosis and decide the best course of treatment. It is better to consult with a dentist immediately to avoid the risk of infection caused by a broken tooth.
The dentist may even prescribe painkillers to numb the pain in your broken teeth. If the chipped teeth have jagged edges, the dentist may cover it with paraffin wax to prevent cutting your tongue or gums. You should only eat soft foods and liquids until you repair your teeth.
If only a small piece of the tooth enamel breaks off, the dentist may repair your teeth by dental bonding or filling. Dental bonding is generally a simple procedure and you may choose the bonding material in the same color as the natural color of your teeth.
Sometimes Dental Crowns are Preferred Treatments
In case of more severe chipping, dental crowns or caps are a preferred treatment for mending your teeth. Dental crowns cover the damaged teeth and provide strength to the underlying teeth while preventing further damage to the weakened tooth.
Dental crowns are also useful for protecting teeth after a root canal procedure or after filling a particularly large cavity. Dental crowns can restore the natural function and appearance of the damaged tooth.
Dental crowns can last for a lifetime with proper oral care and eating habits. Similar to your natural teeth, dental crowns can develop cavities when you eat sugary junk food and do not maintain proper dental hygiene. Dental crowns can also become chipped or may develop a crack just like a normal tooth.
Dental Crown Materials
Dental crowns are comprised of a variety of materials.
1. Ceramic Crowns consist of porcelain material that is used for restoring your front teeth because of the natural appearance.
2. Zirconia crowns are very durable and have a beautiful natural appearance. These are growing in popularity among cosmetic dentists.
3. Resin Crowns are the least durable of all dental crown material and are usually perfect for use as temporary crowns.
4. Stainless Steel Crowns are very durable and are resistant to corrosion.
5. Gold Alloy Crowns can bond with the teeth strongly and are extremely durable.
Procedure for Installing Dental Crowns
The process of equipping dental crowns typically requires at least 2 visits to the dentist. Upon diagnosis, the dentist may grind or shave off part of your broken tooth to make a shape on which a dental crown can fit seamlessly. The dentist will remove the outer part of your tooth while leaving the strong inner core intact.
The dentist will then take an impression of your broken and chipped teeth to make a dental crown according to the dimensions of your teeth. The dentist will then install a temporary dental crown in place until the installation of the permanent crown.
The dentist will match the new crown with the color of the adjacent teeth. A powerful dental adhesive or dental cement is used to affix the new crown in place. The dental cement creates a seal between the broken tooth and the dental crown to firmly hold it in place.
If a large part of your tooth breaks off, the dentist will need to perform a root canal therapy before affixing a dental crown.
Dental Crowns For Children
Children are extremely susceptible to falling and breaking their teeth. Even if children only have primary teeth that last few years, the presence of teeth is vital in properly learning to communicate and socializing.
A survey indicates that 25 percent of all children suffer from damaging their permanent teeth by the time they reach 12 years old. Dental injuries such as breaking or chipping a tooth can happen to anyone at any time. You can benefit from using a pediatric crowns kit to repair your child’s broken teeth.
Dental crowns are an excellent solution to secure the primary tooth and prevent the permanent teeth from deviating from the proper position. If your child has difficulty in maintaining proper dental hygiene, a crown may be beneficial.
Conclusion
Falling face-first on the ground or when biting some hard substance can cause your tooth to break. The breaking or chipping of teeth may cause severe pain and can lead to further damage or infection of the tooth.
Dental crowns are a prosthetic device that is put over the broken tooth to give it support and prevent further damage to the weak tooth. Moreover, dental crowns also improve the appearance of the tooth making it seem natural.
Dental crown comprising of several different materials are available for repairing damaged teeth. Typically, dental crowns are extremely durable and can last from five to fifteen years.