While it’s unfortunate, there are things that can chip tooth enamel. This could be something as significant as a blow to the face or other trauma. At the same time, mundane things like a bad habit of biting your fingernails or grinding your teeth at night can also chip a tooth.
Even if the chipped tooth doesn’t cause heightened sensitivity or discomfort, Dr. Truong Nguyen still recommends having it repaired at Always Dental Care. The small textures in the damaged tooth enamel could invite bacteria and stray food matter to establish a new cavity.
Small chips can often be repaired with a simple composite or amalgam filling. If a large area of tooth enamel was damaged, Dr. Truong Nguyen might recommend a dental crown in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
This piece of dental work is designed to replicate the original tooth enamel layer. Most crowns are made from either porcelain, gold, or base metal alloys. The crown itself is hollow to allow it to be anchored on an abutment that is formed out of the dentin, pulp, and root of the tooth.
Once the tooth enamel has been cleared away, Dr. Truong Nguyen will make a detailed impression of the abutment and the neighboring teeth. This also includes the teeth in your bite pattern that will match up with the final crown.
The impression will be sent to a dental lab where your new crown will be custom made. To protect it while you wait, a temporary crown will be cemented over the abutment to keep it safe. Just keep in mind that the temporary crown will not restore the tooth’s full function to bite or chew hard foods.
When the dental lab technician has completed the crown, you will need to come back in to have it installed. Once it has been cemented onto the abutment, the newly restored tooth will last you for many years to come.
If you have a chipped tooth in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, you should call 484.392.7687 to have it treated and repaired at Always Dental Care.