Your natural tooth enamel is composed of a complex matrix of mineral crystals. This gives your teeth the necessary hardness to break down and process food before swallowing. However, there are still some things that can exceed the hardness of your tooth enamel to cause a dental fracture.
A problem like a dental fracture is more likely to occur if you grind your teeth at night, or you fail to use a mouth guard during rigorous athletic activities. At the same time, bad habits like chewing on desktop items, using your teeth as tools, or crunching on ice can also damage your teeth.
If a large amount of tooth enamel is damaged, Dr. Kenneth Kirk might recommend treating the tooth with a dental crown. This mode of treatment is designed to fully replace the tooth enamel layer with an artificial material like gold, porcelain, or base metals.
Dr. Kenneth Kirk perform the treatment through the course of two separate appointments. The first calls for him to numb the area and use a dental drill to remove all the tooth enamel. This leaves behind an abutment containing the dentin and all the other sensitive structures of the tooth.
A detailed impression will be made of the area to help guide the dental technicians who will create your dental crown. At the end of the appointment Dr. Kenneth Kirk will secure a temporary crown over the abutment to protect it.
When your dental crown is ready Dr. Kenneth Kirk will cement it in place with a strong dental adhesive. This will complete the restoration process and ensure that your tooth lasts for a long time to come.