In our cosmetic dentistry office in Tucson, we specialize in dental restorations. If you damage a tooth by cracking or chipping it, there is a good chance that we will recommend a dental crown. It is an excellent restoration as it is a cap that surrounds the tooth entirely, not allowing any direct contact at all. Crowns are also long-lasting, able to stay in place for 15 years or longer. Also, dental crowns look entirely natural and can blend in with the surrounding teeth. Their reputation for durability has one drawback: people tend to take them for granted, assuming that they cannot become damaged.
Unfortunately, just like natural teeth, crowns can indeed become damaged. If you are in an accident or something hits your face, a tooth or crown can crack or chip. Additionally, with crowns, you have to be concerned with the health of the tooth beneath it. If that tooth becomes infected, it can create an issue. To avoid this, be sure to brush and floss throughout the day in addition to having your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year.
In most cases, a crown will last for more than a decade without any problems. For crowns that do become damaged, the reason is typically biting onto something that you should not have, such as chewing ice or pencils. Another reason can be accidents like car wrecks, sports injuries, etc. Also, a crown may start to come loose if the tooth underneath is infected.
In our cosmetic dentistry office, we recommend that you run your tongue along your teeth after brushing them. This way, you can tell if anything feels different. Watch for rough edges, since this can be a sign that your tooth has become chipped. To be sure that no food is stuck to the teeth causing the roughness, brush your teeth and then run your tongue along them again.
If you still feel something, call us for an appointment. You should also watch for signs of a loose crown. This can be more challenging, because a loose crown can fall off, and if it happens while you sleep, you could end up swallowing it. For this reason, call our office immediately at (520) 368-3351 if anything is loose.
When you visit Simply Smiles Dentistry, we will conduct a physical examination and take an X-ray. That way, we can tell what the problem is and create a plan for treating it. Sometimes, we can restore damage to a crown by smoothing out the area and applying bonding material. If the damage to the crown is extensive, we may need to remove and replace it. Also, if the tooth beneath it is infected, we will need to remove the crown, remove the infected portion of the tooth and then place a new crown to complete the process.
In general, if you need a new crown, it will take two appointments to complete the procedure. Regardless of what is wrong with your tooth or restoration, we can correct it in a way that is natural-looking and durable in our cosmetic dentistry office.
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