106 South 21st Ave., Hattiesburg, MS 39401 
Even though your teeth are hard, there are still times when a blow to the face or other oral accident can cause a large chip or fracture in your tooth enamel. This is even more likely to happen if you engage in high-risk activities like playing contact sports without a mouth guard, chewing on pens and pencils or using your teeth as tools. Even if a fracture doesn’t cause pain, the compromised enamel can eventually harbor a new cavity.
In a situation like this, your dentist, Dr. Wendy McCurdy, might recommend restoring the entire enamel layer of the tooth with a dental crown.
A dental crown in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is essentially a perfect replica of the enamel layer of the tooth. It is often made from either porcelain, gold or base metal alloys. The crown itself is hollow, which will allow it to be anchored on a post-like abutment that is formed from the core structures of the tooth.
Once the enamel layer of the tooth has been cleared away, Dr. Wendy McCurdy will make an impression of the abutment and any corresponding teeth. This also includes the teeth in your bite pattern that will work with the final crown.
The impression will be sent to the dental lab where your permanent crown will be custom crafted. Then, a hard, plastic, temporary crown will be cemented over the abutment to protect it.
Dr. Wendy McCurdy will call you back into Smile Time Family Dentistry for a follow-up appointment when your new crown is ready. The temporary crown will be removed and your permanent crown will be cemented securely into place.
If you have a badly chipped or fractured tooth, you should call us at 601-583-2000 to have it examined and treated.
