Repair Cracked Teeth with Dental Crowns
One of the most common reasons why patients go to the dentist is because they have a cracked tooth. Teeth can chip, break, or fracture for a variety of reasons. Sometimes a cusp gives away under normal or heavy chewing forces. Or perhaps part of a tooth breaks away from a large filling. Whatever the cause, it can pose a disconcerting dilemma for the patient. Dr. C. Mike Meek and Dr. David J. Tasch of 38th Street Dental see cracked teeth at their Austin, TX, practice on a routine basis. Because of their wealth of experience, they know that it is usually best to repair cracked teeth with dental crowns. They provide this effective restorative treatment in a caring and efficient manner and, as their many patients attest, they consistently achieve excellent results.
Why Choose a Crown?
Cracked teeth are affected with different degrees of severity. They can range from a hairline fracture that is barely visible to a situation where a large chunk of tooth or filling is broken away. Sometimes, the entire tooth is broken off at the gum line. Most cracked teeth are restorable, and most are best treated with a dental crown.
A crown is more descriptively called a cap. The crowns that Dr. Meek and Dr. Tasch typically recommend are the latest, most durable, and most esthetic non-metal crowns. They are either all-porcelain, zirconia, or IPS e.max®. Whatever the material, they are fabricated to perfectly match the size, shape, and shade of the natural tooth they are covering. And like all crowns, they cover and enclose the entire tooth from the gum line to the chewing surface. Crowns are custom made for each tooth. When cemented in place over the tooth, they are extremely strong, and they look, feel, and function like the natural teeth they protect.
Are There Other Options?
Cracked teeth can also sometimes be restored with silver or composite filling material if the cracked portion is very small. However, a tooth that has cracked is likely to break again if it is addressed with a restoration no stronger than a filling. Filling materials for cracked teeth are best used either as temporary restorations, or else to build the tooth back up so that it can be better prepared for a crown.
Other options for restoring cracked teeth are inlays or onlays. Like crowns, these are fabricated in the laboratory. Unlike crowns, however, they cover only part of the tooth. They can also be very strong and functional but are often more technically difficult to prepare and fabricate. Considering all options, nothing beats a full crown for strength and serviceability to restore cracked teeth.
Why Not Insist on the Best Treatment Available?
Patients with a cracked or chipped tooth, or those who think they may need a crown, are encouraged to call the experts at 38th Street Dental. Schedule an appointment by using the simple online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you achieve a healthy, beautiful-looking smile again.
