There are times when it’s possible for a hard fall or blow to the face to cause a tooth to crack severely. Sometimes a cracked tooth can be saved by a root canal. However, most of the time the damage is so extensive that Oakdale Family Dentistry’s dentist simply must extract the tooth to prevent further problems.
Once your gums have healed, the dentist can help you understand your options for replacing the tooth. One of the most effective methods is to install a titanium dental implant that can later be fitted with a crown.
Your dentist at Oakdale Family Dentistry will need to refer you to an oral surgeon, who will install the implant. This is done by making a small incision in your gums and drilling a narrow channel into your jaw bone. The surgeon then screws a titanium abutment into the channel and sutures the incision.
In time the titanium abutment will naturally fuse to your bone to create a very solid anchor point. Once this happens Oakdale Family Dentistry’s dentist will take a detailed impression of the abutment and send it off to a dental lab.
The dental lab will use the impression as a guide to creating a custom shaped crown. When the crown is ready, a dentist at Oakdale Family Dentistry can cement it into place during a simple short appointment. With proper care and cleaning your new dental implant will serve you for many years to come.
If you have a cracked or otherwise damaged tooth, you should call Oakdale Family Dentistry’s office in Oakdale, Minnesota at 651-731-6464 to see if you’re a good candidate for dental implants.