Schedule a Dental Treatment in Tucson If Your Crown Becomes Damaged

We encourage you to schedule an appointment for dental treatment in Tucson if anything happens that damages your natural teeth or dental crown. It is entirely possible to damage a crown because, like a natural tooth, it is both durable and fragile at the same time. If used appropriately, your crown can last 15 years to a lifetime. This requires good oral hygiene at home and regular dental care. If, however, you do not take care of your teeth, they are more prone to infection. Likewise, it is entirely possible to practice good oral hygiene, but have your crown damaged in an accident or while playing sports. Regardless of the reason, if this happens to you, it is important to seek dental care right away.

How to tell if your crown is damaged

Run your tongue across your teeth. If you notice any rough edges, there is a good chance that your tooth is slightly chipped. If you are looking at your front teeth, this will be obvious. However, with your back teeth, you will need to rely on how they feel. If you are unsure, you can always brush your teeth and run your tongue along them again. Also, when feeling your teeth, notice if anything is loose. If your crown is coming loose, this is a vital reason to schedule an immediate dental treatment. It is not safe to go to bed with a loose crown because it could fall off and be swallowed. We will want to see you right away and may provide specific instructions over the phone.

The steps we take in our office

When you visit us for a dental treatment, we will examine your teeth and gums to determine the source of the problem and the extent of it. In the case of a damaged crown, we need to determine if the crown is damaged, if there is a problem with the actual tooth, or if we need to treat both. In some cases, the damage is to the exterior of the crown and caused by doing something like biting down on ice. In other situations, the tooth underneath has become damaged or is experiencing decay. To determine the issue at hand, we will conduct both a physical examination and take an X-ray.

When it comes to treating a damaged crown, we might be able to fix it by smoothing out the crown and applying a bonding material in order to restore it. This is the best case scenario. If the crown is severely damaged, it might need to be replaced. Simultaneously, if the tooth underneath becomes infected, we will need to remove the crown, remove the infected portion of the tooth, and then place a new crown on top of it. In rare cases, the tooth could be so damaged that it needs to be extracted, in which case we can replace it with a dental bridge or implant.

Regardless of the type of dental care that you need, our Tucson dentist office can help. Call us today at (520) 368-3351 to schedule a dental treatment.