Dental Crown for a Chipped Tooth: Is It the Right Fix?

When Does a Chipped Tooth Require a Crown?

Small chips rarely need a crown. A dentist can often just smooth the rough edge or bond the lost piece back on for a tooth-coloured repair. This is perfect for chips that are mostly superficial.

Crowning is more appropriate for large chips that remove a significant amount of tooth structure from the tooth. If the tooth has already been compromised by cavities or old fillings that weaken the tooth, it might need a crown to help recover some of that lost structure.

In addition, if the damage to the tooth extends below the surface of the enamel, then getting a crown may require additional preparatory work.

Signs the Chip Went too Far

You don’t need to panic over a little chip, but there are signs that say you should come into your dentist’s office.

These include:

• A sharp bit of the tooth that could catch the tongue often and make talking or eating uncomfortable

• Pain when biting down on food

• Sensitivity lingering for some time after being exposed to something cold

What Occurs During Crown Treatment?

The first appointment for crown treatment is often dedicated to investigation. If there are underlying concerns about how deeply the chip has gone or if the tooth has other ailments, a dentist could order an x-ray.

When the dentist determines that a crown is right for the chipped tooth, a small amount of enamel is removed from the front and back of the tooth to make room for the crown. After this, an impression or scan is taken so that a permanent crown can be made.

Does a Crown Feel Odd?

It may take a little getting used to, but the body should adjust to a new crown after a little while.

The tongue is amazing when it comes to finding strange things in the mouth, which is why crowns that aren’t quite right are often noticed quickly. However, after some time passes, it should be hard to tell that a crown even exists, so long as it was properly fitted. For the most part, chewing should be relatively normal, although the dentist may make recommendations for how to care for the tooth based on any damage done.

Is a Dental Crown or Bonding Better?

For a small chip, bonding is often the right choice to restore an otherwise happy smile. It’s better for preserving as much natural tooth as possible and is minimally invasive.

On the contrary, I would prefer someone get a crown rather than multiple bonding treatments for a tooth with a large chip. Crowns are appropriate when there isn’t enough natural tooth surface to safely perform bonding, especially since a crown offers greater protection.

The dentist will take into account how much tooth material is present as well as the location of the chip before deciding what treatment is right for a smile. In addition, a front tooth does not carry the same chewing responsibilities as a molar, so a crown may not be necessary for a small chip in a back tooth.

Caring for a Crowned, Chipped Tooth

After the crown is put in place, you should treat it as you would any other tooth. In other words, don’t abuse it and try to chew through everything in sight. If you do that, it won’t last very long!

• Don’t use your crowned tooth to open things, as many people like to do. Your dentist will certainly tell you if you can get away with it. Either way, they see that sort of behaviour more often than you know.

• Keep up regular dental appointments, since other things can occur within the mouth. A crown is good for protecting a chipped tooth, but it still needs to be monitored as though it were a natural tooth.

A crown can give a heavily damaged tooth new life, and a new bite. That’s often what people want from a procedure like this: a tooth that doesn’t cause them grief with every bite, word and laugh.

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