Your tooth enamel is designed to be strong enough to bite and chew common hard foods. However, there are certain things that can apply unnatural force to a tooth, causing a fracture in the enamel. This could be as significant as a blow to the face or as mundane as grinding your teeth at night on a regular basis.
If the fracture in the enamel is too large to be repaired by a standard dental filling, your dentist, Dr. Mark T. Morgan, might recommend having the tooth restored with a dental crown. This is essentially a replica tooth made from either porcelain, gold or a base metal alloy. It usually takes two separate appointments to fully install a dental crown in Pipestone, Minnesota.
During your first appointment, Dr. Mark T. Morgan will use a drill to remove the tooth enamel and form an abutment. This will later anchor the crown in your mouth. Then, he will make an impression of the area, which will be sent to a dental lab where your new crown will be made.
Dr. Mark T. Morgan will then secure a hard, plastic, temporary crown over the abutment. It’s important to keep in mind that the temporary crown is not a fully functional tooth. The hard, plastic cap is only meant to protect the abutment.
Dr. Mark T. Morgan will call you back for the second appointment after the dental lab technician has completed your crown. The temporary crown will be carefully removed and your new crown will be cemented into place.
If you have recently fractured a tooth, you should call 507-825-5403 to schedule an appointment at Pipestone Dental Center.