Broken Porcelain Crown

Porcelain crowns are tough, and they are made to last a long time, but after a decade or two or more, there is the potential for disaster to strike. And if simple aging doesn’t impact your crown’s integrity, an accident or making the poor choice to use your teeth for anything but chewing (like opening a bag or bottle) could see that crown popping right off. The right solution for fixing your crown is between your dentist and you, but there are several options that might be viable depending on your situation.

First of all, if your crown comes off of your tooth, make an emergency call to your dentist. The reason you have a crown on your tooth in the first place is because the natural tooth underneath was damaged in such a way that it was no longer viable or usable. And whether you had a root canal or just needed a restorative dentistry solution to cover up an ugly-looking tooth, the fact remains: You don’t want that tooth exposed to food and bacteria for any length of time. And, frankly, it probably looks pretty gross too.

When you finally get in the dentist’s chair, you’ll be presented with a variety of options for solving the case of the broken crown, including:

  1. Replacement crown: Naturally, if your crown is very old, it would make sense to have the crown replaced completely. Dental innovations allow for crowns to be made in the dentist’s office while you wait, so you don’t need to walk around with a gap in your smile any longer than necessary. Your new porcelain crown will be customized to fit your smile and be bonded in place quickly.
  2. Dental bonding: Dental bonding is the fast, affordable solution for repairing jagged or misshapen teeth and can usually be completed in one visit to the dentist. The surface of the problem tooth is covered with a tooth-colored resin to match the color of your teeth. This builds up the tooth’s structure. The resin is cured and hardened so it bonds securely to your damaged tooth, and your new tooth is shaped and sculpted until it looks natural and blends with your other teeth.
  3. Partial crown: A dental onlay is sometimes referred to as a partial crown. When a decayed tooth needs more than a filling to repair it but can get by with less than a crown, a composite onlay is layered within the top surface of the tooth and used to create new cusps of the tooth. The onlay strengthens the structure of the tooth and lasts for decades.
  4. Dental implant: If your natural tooth that has been exposed by the broken or missing crown is so compromised by age or decay, then your dentist may strongly recommend that the tooth be pulled. In this situation, another slew of options open up for you, including dentures or a bridge, depending on your situation. But, more often than not, dental implants are the restorative dentistry solution of choice for many patients. The implant takes the place of the pulled tooth’s root, stimulating the jaw bone and helping to prevent bone loss, while serving as an anchor for a prosthetic tooth to be placed on top and blend in with the rest of your smile.

Don’t take chances with your oral health. Not paying immediate attention to a broken or cracked tooth makes it susceptible to bacteria and food particles, setting the groundwork for gingivitis and periodontal disease. If you have lost an old crown, or if any of your cosmetic or restorative dentistry solutions are causing problems with your oral health, contact Dr. Shaista Najmi at Ivory Dental in Jacksonville, Florida, to find the right solution.

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