A dental crown is a tooth restoration that resembles a little cap, tooth-like on the outside and hollow on the inside. Your Winston-Salem dentist will use a crown to protect a damaged tooth by covering it completely. Most modern dental crowns are lab-created from high-grade materials like Emax or zirconia because this material resembles the color, durability and translucence of natural tooth enamel. However, some forms of damage will require that we replace a crown.
Different Issues with Dental Crowns in Winston-Salem
Dental crowns may be not be repairable if they experience complete breaks or cracks. For example, porcelain crowns are durable when intact but are brittle when fractured. However, cases do exist where your dental crown may be repaired. Also, if your crown becomes dislodged but is otherwise intact, Dr. Pryor could possibly recement it in place after ensuring it still fits, and there is not decay underneath.
Small chips may also compromise your dental crown, and Dr. Pryor may evaluate its condition and recommend dental bonding to repair and reinforce your dental crown. We perform bonding by using tooth-colored composite, like what we use to fill cavities, to fill in minor damage, and sculpt your tooth to look natural. Then, we use a specialized light to cure the composite once we have the right shape, and the repair may not even be noticeable.
Dental crowns may also need to be replaced if the margin becomes compromised: this can happen due to decay. Dr. Pryor will check to see if the margin is penetrable, also looking for overhangs or areas that are not sealed. If these are detected, a replacement crown may be the best option.