If you have recently injured one of your teeth, a dental restoration can help you maintain your remaining natural material. While cracks or chips may seem simply cosmetic, any injury that breaks the protective seal of your tooth’s enamel can increase your risk for decay or infection. By visiting with your dentist, we can inspect the extent of your damage and determine which treatment supports your oral health. When the effects of decay or physical trauma are too great to repair with a filling, a dental crown can replace the entirety of your tooth’s structure above your gum line. These caps are strong enough to withstand the force of your bite and are designed to help return its alignment after wear and tear. Made from the same composite resin as fillings, we can shade your restoration to match the rest of your smile.
At your Ankeny, IA, dental practice, we offer restorative treatments to prevent additional damage to your oral health after experiencing an injury. While your preventive care protects against decay with routine checkups and daily hygienic habits, sometimes a more involved procedure is required to restore your oral health.
How Decay Wears Away At Teeth
When your tooth is healthy, its enamel takes hundreds of pounds of pressure from your bite and keeps outside threats from reaching sensitive areas within the tooth’s structure. By staying on top of your brushing and flossing routine, you regularly remove oral bacteria that could compromise this outer layer. When left to form a sticky film on the surface of your teeth, plaque produces an acidic byproduct that breaks down your enamel. Eventually, tiny holes, or cavities, form that permanently wear away at your tooth’s structure. When this damage grows beyond the reparative capability of a standard filling, we will suggest a stronger restorative option.
Designing And Placing Your Dental Crown
We will take careful measurements of your injured tooth as well as its neighbors to design a crown that fits comfortably within your bite. This allows us to return its cosmetic appearance and functional ability in the same treatment. After bonding your crown to your smile, we encourage you to practice effective daily oral hygiene to help secure it for years to come. By carefully cleaning the gum line around your restoration, you best prevent decay from harming the natural material below.
Speak With Your Ankeny, IA, Dentist About Repairing Your Tooth
Do not ignore an injury to one of your teeth. A timely repair can help you enjoy a more comfortable bite while preventing additional damage from setting in. If you would like to find out more about this treatment, please contact your Ankeny, IA dentist’s office at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.
