Dental crowns are designed to last for five to 15 years. However, a crown can break sooner, especially if you grind your teeth regularly or have an accident. At the office of Steven C. Hewett, D.D.S. in Champions Gate, FL, we understand how important it is for a broken crown to be repaired quickly. Today, we’re taking a look at just how quickly you can expect a broken crown to be fixed to help put you at ease in case an emergency occurs.
How Long Does It Take To Fix a Broken Crown?
How long it takes to fix a broken crown depends on several factors, including the technique used to repair the crown. For example, if dental bonding is used, the crown can be repaired during the first dental appointment.
If this technique is chosen, the dental structure will be rebuilt with several applications of a tooth-colored resin. Once it’s done hardening, it will be shaped to resemble your tooth. Another quick option is a partial crown or dental onlay. If you need a new permanent crown, it may take between two and three weeks to have your crown replaced.
What Can I Do To Help My Crown Last Longer?
Practicing proper oral hygiene is one of the most important things to do if you want your dental crown to last as long as possible. To be clear, you should brush your teeth no fewer than twice daily and floss at least once daily. It is also important that your mouth-related habits are good. For example, if you suspect you grind your teeth in your sleep, you should use a mouthguard to protect your crown from grinding down.
As another example, you should avoid biting your fingernails or opening packaging with your teeth. Doing these things will put a great deal of undue wear and tear, as will chewing ice and clenching your teeth.
Do I Need a Dental Crown?
There are a number of circumstances under which a dental crown is necessary. For example, a crown will benefit you if you have a cavity that is too large to be treated with a filling.
What Can I Expect When Getting My First Crown?
Whether you need a crown for cosmetic or medical purposes, getting a crown starts with an initial examination. X-rays of your mouth will be taken to determine the health of the roots and bone surrounding the tooth that needs the crown. If there is a great deal of decay or a high chance that the pulp of the tooth will be injured or infected, a root canal may be necessary prior to the crown being placed.
Prior to the commencement of the crown-making process, the gum tissue and tooth will be numbed with anesthesia. Then, the chewing surface and sides of the targeted tooth will be reshaped to ensure there is room for the crown to be implanted. Once the tooth has been reshaped, a putty or paste will be used to make an impression of the tooth that is in need of a crown. Then, we will ensure the crown won’t affect your bite and have your crown manufactured.
What If There Has Been a Lot of Tooth Damage?
If you are missing a significant portion of your tooth due to an injury or severe decay, a crown may not be enough to protect the integrity of your tooth. Your tooth may need to be built up with a special filling material to ensure the crown has enough support.
Do I Need To Replace My Crown?
Your dental crown will need to be replaced if it can no longer protect the tooth properly or fit correctly anymore. This is often required when the crown is so damaged that part of it is missing. It is also often necessary to replace a crown if the crown broke due to a cavity in the tooth beneath the crown.
What Are the Best Available Types of Crowns?
A dental implant surgeon can advise you on the best type of crown for you. If you want your crown to match the color of your adjacent teeth, the best type of crown for you may be a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. All-porcelain crowns also may be a good idea. This type of crown most closely resembles the color of other teeth.
If you are allergic to metal, all-porcelain or all-ceramic may be the right type of crown for you if you have any metal allergies. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns will not be ideal because the metal is on the inside of the crown touching your teeth. Another type of crown that brings its own advantages to the table is an all-resin crown. If you think a metal crown that is high in gold or platinum is too expensive, this may be a good type of crown for you.
What Should I Expect From a Temporary Crown?
You should generally expect a temporary crown to be prefabricated out of stainless steel. This emergency crown is generally used to treat adults who are experiencing a significant amount of tooth decay.
How Should I Care for a Temporary Dental Crown?
Caring for a temporary dental crown is different from caring for a permanent crown. You should strongly consider taking a few precautions to mitigate the risk of the temporary crown cracking or coming off. For example, you should try to cut back on the amount of hard foods, like celery and carrots, that you chew on. If you feel the need for a crunchy snack, chew with the side of your mouth that does not contain the temporary dental crown.
You should also strongly consider not chewing anything sticky, like gum or caramel. Moreover, when you floss, make sure you avoid pulling your temporary crown off by sliding the dental floss out rather than lifting it.
How Should I Care for My Dental Crown?
Caring for a dental crown is just like caring for a tooth. You will need to brush and floss as you usually would even if a tooth has a crown on it. Crowns do not provide complete protection from periodontal disease or tooth decay. It is also important that you rinse your mouth out with an antibacterial mouthwash at least once daily.
What Should I Do If One of My Crowns Is Broken?
If one of your dental crowns becomes cracked or otherwise damaged, you should call your implant dentistry expert as soon as possible to determine how you should proceed. In some cases, an emergency dentist appointment is required. If your damaged crown is not jagged and causing mouth soreness, you may just need to schedule a regular dental appointment. It may take a day or two for your crown to be repaired in this case.
Until your damaged crown is repaired or replaced, you should strongly consider avoiding any foods or beverages that are hot or cold. If the pulp beneath the affected tooth is damaged, you may feel sensitive to certain temperatures. Another important step you should take if your crown is cracked is to inspect it to see if it looks like you have dislodged part of the crown. Sometimes, pieces can go missing, especially in the case of a fall or accident during sports.
Why Should I Have My Crown Repaired or Replaced?
One incredibly important reason to have a damaged crown addressed is that damaged crowns often result in pain, temperature sensitivity, or other forms of discomfort. However, it is not just your ability to maintain your usual diet comfortably that you should have your damaged crown fixed.
Another incredibly important reason to have your damaged crown repaired or replaced is that if you got your crown to address extensive decay rather than a cosmetic issue, the decay will continue. Yet another important reason to have damage addressed as quickly as possible is to prevent decay from leading intio the natural tooth beneath the damaged crown. This can result in root damage, an infection or abscess, or a massive cavity to name a few consequences.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
How long it takes to fix a broken crown depends on a number of factors, including the severity of the break and the technique used. If you have broken your crown and need it to be repaired or replaced, contact us today at the office of Steven C. Hewett, D.D.S. in Champions Gate, FL to schedule a free consultation.
