A filling is generally used by Dr. Ferrell to repair a chip or small cavity. Should a new cavity develop, there might not be sufficient healthy tooth enamel remaining to apply a second filling.
In a situation like this, he might recommend removing all of the tooth enamel to replace it with a dental crown.
A dental crown in Lehi, Utah, is a near-perfect replica of the tooth enamel layer made from either porcelain, gold, or a base metal alloys. The crown itself is hollow to allow it to be anchored on an abutment that is formed out of the dentin, pulp, and root of the tooth.
Once all the tooth enamel has been removed, Dr. Ferrell will make a detailed impression of the abutment and the neighboring teeth. This also includes the teeth in your bite pattern that will match up with the final crown.
The impression will be sent to Dr. Ferrell’s off-site dental lab where the new crown will be made. In the interim, a temporary crown will be anchored atop the abutment to protect it.
When the new crown is ready, a member of our Center Creek Dental staff will contact you to schedule a second appointment. During this session, your dentist will remove the temporary crown before using a strong dental adhesive to cement your new crown in place.
If you have a tooth in need of treatment and repair, you should call 801-766-3700 to explore your repair and restoration options at our clinic.