Cracked Tooth? A Dental Crown Might Be the Hero You Didn’t Know You Needed
A cracked tooth is something you should never ignore, even if the damage seems minor. That’s because it will only get worse over time, potentially leaving you with a dental emergency when you least expect it.
Instead, planning to receive a dental crown could be the perfect solution for your smile. Crowns provide lasting protection and restore the strength, function, and beauty of your smile.
What causes a cracked tooth?
Your teeth are protected by a strong and durable material known as enamel, but they can still develop cracks in various ways, including dental trauma. Injuries from accidents or sports activities are also common causes of cracked teeth. Wearing a mouth guard as needed can help prevent many such cases.
In addition to sudden harm, there are more consistent risk factors that can lead to cracks forming and worsening over time. People who grind and clench their teeth, for instance, are quite susceptible to cracks. You might do so without realizing it during your sleep. Biting down on hard foods or using your teeth for things other than eating, such as opening packaging, can also lead to a cracked tooth.
Cracks can happen without your noticing at first. If you notice symptoms such as sudden temperature sensitivity, pain when chewing, or visible lines on a tooth, you should reach out to your dentist to determine whether it is cracked.
How a Dental Crown Saves the Day
Dental crowns provide an excellent solution for cracked teeth, but what is a dental crown in the first place? It’s a custom cover made of porcelain, ceramic, or other strong materials that envelops and protects the entire tooth to prevent further damage.
It’s important to keep in mind that different materials each have their own benefits and can affect the overall dental crown cost in various ways. Still, in any case, your dental crown will be carefully made to match your smile and provide a perfect fit.
Getting a dental crown can help you avoid more invasive treatments and achieve better long-term oral health outcomes. It could also be the only way to save a tooth that would otherwise need extraction. Getting a crown for a cracked tooth as soon as possible can also help you avoid infections and the need for a root canal treatment.
The Process: Getting a Crown at Berrien Dental
Getting your dental crown at Berrien Dental is a straightforward and comfortable process. Like any restorative dentistry treatment, it starts with a consultation to determine whether a crown is the right solution for you.
Once the dental crown procedure has been decided on, we will prepare the tooth by removing some of its enamel. Doing so ensures that the crown has room to fit over the tooth, in addition to creating a uniform and stable base.
We’ll then take digital impressions so that your crown can be fully customized. There’s no need for uncomfortable and messy dental putty; instead, an oral scanner captures a high-resolution scan of your mouth and teeth, which will then be used to create a crown that matches your smile and fits snugly over the prepared tooth.
You’ll receive a temporary crown to protect the tooth while the dental lab prepares the final crown. Then, you’ll come back in for final placement and adjustments. Your custom crown will match your smile perfectly, with a natural shape and shade.
Don’t Wait—Cracks Don’t Heal on Their Own
If you’ve noticed the signs of a cracked tooth, do not hesitate to reach out to your dentist as soon as possible. Leaving the crack untreated risks further damage to the tooth, which could potentially make it unsuitable for a dental crown. Left long enough, it may even require a full extraction.
Cracks can also let bacteria enter the inner layers of the tooth, bypassing the protective enamel and causing painful infections. These can affect the interior of the tooth and can spread to the gum tissue. You’ll need a root canal treatment to handle an infection of any severity.
Acting early can also save you a lot of financial strife, as you’ll avoid potentially costly additional treatments (in particular, the need for a bridge or dental implants if your tooth is extracted).
Let a Crown Protect What’s Yours
Getting a dental crown for your cracked tooth as soon as you notice your tooth may be cracked can make a major difference in your ongoing oral health. Instead of letting damage spread and facing potential infection, let a trusted dentist in St. Joseph, Michigan, handle it. The team at Berrien Dental provides a full range of dental restorations, including crowns. Schedule a consultation with us today to get started.