Rebuilding a broken-down tooth so it can support a crown, at Highfield Dental Clinic, Edgbaston.
A crown is only as reliable as what sits beneath it. Our team rebuilds the foundation properly before any crown is made.
A core build-up rebuilds a tooth that has lost too much structure to support a crown on its own. Filling material is used to reconstruct the missing part of the tooth, creating a solid, correctly shaped foundation for the crown to sit on.
It is commonly needed after root canal treatment, after a large filling has failed, or where a tooth has fractured. Sometimes a post is cemented into a root canal to help retain the core, though this is only used where there is insufficient remaining tooth to hold it otherwise.
Heavily broken-down tooth needing a crown in Birmingham? Our experienced team will assess whether it can be rebuilt successfully.
The procedure is usually completed in a single appointment. It typically involves:
Your dentist will then either prepare the tooth for a crown at the same visit or arrange a separate appointment, depending on the case.
The critical question is how much sound tooth remains above the gum. A crown needs to grip a band of solid tooth structure around its circumference, sometimes called a ferrule, and without this the restoration is far more likely to fail.
Where too little tooth remains, options include crown lengthening surgery to expose more tooth, orthodontic extrusion to bring the tooth up, or extraction and replacement. Your dentist will be honest if the outlook is poor, as investing in a crown on an unrestorable foundation rarely serves patients well.
It uses similar materials, but its purpose is different. A filling restores a tooth to function directly, while a core creates a foundation specifically shaped to support a crown.
No. Posts are only used where there is too little remaining tooth to retain the core. Where enough tooth structure remains, a post adds risk without benefit.
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic, so treatment is comfortable. Teeth that have had root canal treatment have no nerve sensation.
No. Where too little sound tooth remains above the gum, the outlook is poor. Your dentist will explain the alternatives honestly.
Sometimes, though heavily broken-down teeth, particularly root-treated back teeth, are prone to fracture without full coverage from a crown or onlay.
Usually a single appointment, often combined with preparing the tooth for the crown. Your dentist will confirm the plan beforehand.
