There are times when grinding your teeth at night or improvising your teeth as tools can impart enough force to cause a dental fracture. The damage to the tooth enamel can vary in severity. However, even a minor dental fracture needs to be seen by Dr. Morelli and Dr. Bullock. In time, the compromised area of tooth enamel could foster a cavity.
In the case of a large fracture, our dentists might not be able to treat the tooth with a standard amalgam or composite filling. Instead, they might recommend treating the fractured tooth with a dental crown. 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.
Drs. Morelli and Bullock will start by numbing the tooth before using a special dental drill to remove the tooth enamel. This will form an abutment that will later serve to anchor the dental crown in your mouth. Our dentists will then create an impression of the area, which will be sent to a dental lab where your dental crown will be created.
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. It is only meant to protect the abutment while the dental technicians work on your dental crown.
A member of staff will call you back to schedule a second appointment when your dental crown is ready. Our dentists will then use a special dental adhesive to secure the permanent crown onto the abutment.
If you live in the Brookfield, Connecticut, area and you have chipped or fractured a tooth, you should call 203.775.6167 to schedule an appointment.