There are times when grinding your teeth, crunching on ice, or using your teeth as tools can apply so much force that it chips one of your teeth. Even if you don’t feel any immediate discomfort in the tooth, you should still have it examined by a professionally trained dentist like Dr. Bryce E. Justesen.
If the damaged area of tooth enamel isn’t repaired in a reasonable amount of time it could start to collect plaque and food residue. These bacterial deposits could eventually cause a severe cavity to develop in the already compromised tooth.
The size and location of the chip will influence the method Dr. Bryce E. Justesen recommends for treating the tooth.
In some cases, the best method for preventing a new cavity is to replace the tooth’s entire enamel layer with a dental crown. This dental treatment is designed to fully replace the tooth enamel layer with an artificial material such as gold, porcelain, or a metallic alloy.
To do this Dr. Bryce E. Justesen will need to numb the tooth and surrounding gums before using a drill to remove the remains of the tooth enamel. This will leave behind an abutment containing the dentin, and other sensitive structures of the tooth.
Then he will create a detailed impression of the area to serve as a guide for the dental technicians responsible for making your dental. At the end of the appointment, Dr. Bryce E. Justesen will secure a temporary crown over the abutment to protect it.
When your dental crown is ready, Dr. Bryce E. Justesen will cement it in place with a special dental adhesive.
If you are in Mesa, Arizona, and you’ve suffered a chipped or fractured tooth, you should call 480.827.1234 to have it examined and treated at Bryce E. Justesen, DDS.