Will a crown restore teeth that are broken?

I’m trying to figure out the best course of action for my husband. His two front teeth are broken off from a fall this past weekend. What are his options? I think the roots are still okay. Do you think porcelain crowns are an option? Or are we looking at a bridge?

-Sarah in Kansas

Sarah,

It is very difficult to give you specific recommendations without having seen your case in person. So, generally speaking, it is possible to save a front tooth that is broken. A root canal treatment may save the broken tooth and if the porcelain crowns are done by an expert cosmetic dentist, it is possible that you would never know that your husband’s teeth were damaged.

But placing a crown in the place of the broken teeth, all depends on how much of the teeth are left. Many dentists will not want to attempt root canals with crowns because dental implants are another very popular option to replace teeth that are broken off. A dental implant looks, feels and functions just like a natural tooth does. So, depending on the opinion of the dentist, they may try and steer you in the route of dental implants.

There are many things to consider when replacing front teeth. His bite is also an important factor to determine the best treatment plan. There may be rotational force that occurs on a front tooth. And often times a restoration isn’t the best plan to hold up to those rotational forces. A way to remedy the rotational force issue is to place two posts into the root of the tooth to reinforce and provided additional strength.

Another issue that may be a problem is that although a “rigid” post is stronger, it’s not always the best for a front tooth either. The force will be transferred against the root and may end up cracking the root. So it turns out that flexible posts are ideal for replacing front teeth.

You’d be best served seeking out multiple opinions. If you find an implant dentist that is experienced in cosmetic dentistry as well, that may be the best result. Listen to your options and try to move forward sooner than later. If the root canal is a viable option, it needs to be done soon. I hope this information provides some insight into what your options will be to replace the broken teeth.

Good luck!

This post is sponsored by Lexington cosmetic dentist Hamburg Expressions.