When it comes to dental care, there are some things that can be considered an urgent situation. In the case of lost or chipped dental crowns, this is one of those cases with a sense of urgency. If you or a loved one has sustained any damage to a crown, you’ll want to contact Your Dental Office in Toronto, or Etobicoke, as soon as possible.
What is a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are basically caps to cover teeth to help save them. Usually, crowns are installed after restoration work has been performed. For example, if you’ve had a root canal or have only fractions of a tooth, a cap can restore not only the look but the bite of the former tooth. These crowns are relatively strong and are held in place by dental cement.
Chipped Dental Crown
Chips or cracks are more common in those who may be unknowingly grinding their teeth at night, if the crown has aged, or if you’ve had any trauma to the mouth area. In the case of porcelain crowns that have been fused to metal, they can sometimes chip. Chips are easier to fix since a composite resin can be used to fill in any chips or cracks.
Lost Dental Crown
A crown that is missing entirely is more concerning due to the nature of having an exposed center of the tooth that does not have the enamel layer as the natural teeth surrounding it would. If the crown is around 15 years old, it's possible that it's just time to have it replaced as that the average expectancy for crowns. In either case, calling Your Dental Office, located in Toronto and Etobicoke, is the appropriate next step in the process before any other damage can occur.
If your crown is far younger, say only five years old, the crown itself may be perfectly fine and is just no longer intact. An undamaged crown can actually be replaced if it is not damaged which will save you both time and money in lieu of having another crown remolded and installed.