If your tooth becomes chipped or broken from biting down on a hard substance or from a blow to the mouth, the damage can often be corrected. One of the best dental options for a broken tooth is a ceramic dental crown. Here are a few reasons why:

A ceramic dental crown has the appearance of a natural tooth.

Ceramic is often used in dental restorations because of its similarities to natural tooth material. It is translucent like tooth enamel, and the whiteness of the material can be selected to match that of a dental patient's other teeth.

When a ceramic crown is applied to a broken tooth, it surrounds the entire natural crown of the tooth. Thus, the broken area of the tooth is no longer visible. Instead, it is fully concealed. Since the crown looks like natural tooth material, the repair tooth is not discernible from the other teeth in the patient's mouth after the restoration has been completed.

A ceramic crown is strong enough to fortify the tooth.

Ceramic is a very strong material. Thus, when it is applied to a broken tooth, it helps provide structural support for the tooth. Once a tooth has been broken or cracked, its structural integrity is sacrificed or compromised. If a patient bites on another hard substance, the tooth could be further damaged. If the break or crack is severe enough, an extraction is the only option for treatment. Therefore, it is important to protect the tooth as much as possible from additional damages.

A ceramic crown can prevent the entrance of oral bacteria into the tooth.

If a break in a tooth is deep, the tooth may require a filling. However, the filling may not be enough to properly protect the tooth from being invaded by the microbes within the patient's mouth. Once oral bacteria enter the pulp or interior material of a tooth, a dental infection is likely to occur. The infection may require a substantial amount of treatment, such as a round of antibiotics and a root canal. A ceramic crown can help to prevent this though, as it can often protect the tooth better than a filling. 

A dental crown requires little maintenance.

Once a ceramic dental crown is placed, it can be treated just like the patient's other teeth. There are no special requirements or additional dental hygiene efforts needed. The patient can brush and floss in his or her usual manner.

If you have a broken tooth, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your area or click for more information.