A filling is often used to repair a small dental fracture or a cavity in the tooth enamel. It is securely bonded to a substantial amount of natural tooth enamel. If a new cavity forms in the previously repaired tooth, there might not be enough healthy material remaining to anchor a second filling.
To effectively treat a tooth like this, Dr. Laurin Cardwell might recommend removing the old filling and replacing the entire tooth enamel layer with a dental crown.
After a thorough examination and some X-rays, Dr. Laurin Cardwell will numb the tooth with Novocain. Then, she will use a drill to remove all remaining tooth enamel to create a dentin pillar called an abutment. This small post will eventually anchor the final crown in your mouth.
One of Dr. Laurin Cardwell’s dental technicians will then make a detailed impression of the abutment and a temporary crown will be cemented over it. The impression will then be sent to a professional dental lab where your new crown will be produced.
A member of Dr. Laurin Cardwell’s staff will call you to schedule the second appointment when your new crown is ready. Once it has been cemented in place with a special dental adhesive, the tooth’s full presence in your mouth will last for many years.
If you live in Sylva, North Carolina, and you have a previously repaired tooth that you suspect has a new cavity, you shouldn’t delay in calling 828-631-3567 to have it treated at Cardwell Family Dentistry.