Natural teeth and dental crowns are strong by design, but they are far from unbreakable. Many things can cause them to chip or even break, such as improper oral hygiene, damage caused by an injury, biting on something hard, or even just normal wear and tear.
Chipped dental crowns are no cause for alarm, but it’s best to have a dentist take a look and repair it right away. The crown was added to serve a specific purpose and support your dental health, so it’s important to make sure it can still do that. Plus, ignored chips can transform into cracks rather quickly, so don’t postpone calling your dentist!
The good news is that a chipped dental crown, just like a chipped natural tooth, can be successfully repaired in most cases.
Your dentist can use dental bonding to repair a chipped dental crown. It involves using dental resin, a special material that’s easily molded and can be matched to the shade of your smile, and placing it over the affected area of the dental crown.
The dentist will shape the resin to blend to the surface of a crown and use a special light to harden it. The procedure itself doesn’t last very long, and it’s exactly the same as with natural tooth bonding.
However, dental bonding is only appropriate if the chip is relatively small.
Dental crowns aren’t made to last forever. As you chew, talk, and bite down over the years, the dental crown’s structure is being slowly affected. Their lifespan generally depends on the material used to make them, but a dental crown can last you anywhere between 5 to 15 years with the right care.
Over time, the dental crown will suffer wear and tear, and it is likely to break simply because it has reached the end of its life cycle. If your dental crown has a larger crack, or part of it has even broken off, the only option you have is to simply change it.
Some labs offer a warranty for the first 1-2 years of the crown, so if you’re still within your warranty you might be able to get the crown replaced or fixed for free. But if it’s an older crown, you will likely need to pay for a completely new dental crown through your dental insurance or out of pocket.
If you noticed your dental crown is chipped, St. Clair Tooth Co. is happy to help you fix it! Even if the crack is severe, our expert dental services can restore the health and appearance of your smile.
Book an appointment with Dr. Carly Cassleman today and find out what you need to quickly fix your dental crown.
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