Severe tooth decay in the enamel of a single tooth can seriously compromise the function of your mouth. The dentist might not be able to anchor a filling if too much enamel has been damaged. During diagnosis the dentist will take a few x-rays to assess the health of the tooth. If the tooth decay has advanced far enough to infect the root, the dentist might need to perform a root canal to resolve the problem.

An infected root might include symptoms such as a large area of tooth decay, a large filling that has fallen out or pain in the tooth and surrounding gums. Left unresolved, the pain in the tooth might slowly go away, leaving the tooth numb, yet still damaged.

A root canal and crown usually requires two separate appointments. At the first appointment your dentist will use a drill to remove damaged enamel and expose the infected root of the tooth. Once the infection has been removed, the root structure will be replaced with a rubbery material called gutta-percha.

The dentist will then create an abutment or post to anchor a crown. The crown effectively replaces the enamel of your tooth, offering you durability and restored function of the tooth.

They will create an impression of the area before fitting the abutment with a temporary crown. The impression is sent to a dental laboratory where they make a permanent crown that matches the surrounding teeth while also fitting into your personal bite pattern.

At a brief second procedure, the dentist will remove the temporary crown and cement the new permanent crown in place.

If you have a tooth has been damaged or suffers from excessive decay please call us at [phone] to schedule an appointment.