When an individual has a tooth that is severely damaged or broken down, they may not have enough tooth structure remaining to securely hold a cosmetic dental in place.  Tooth extraction may appear to be the only option at this point.  This does not have to be the case, however.

Just because a tooth is damaged in this manner does not mean that it cannot be salvaged and crowned.  Houston Cosmetic Dentists can perform a procedure known as a core build up that will save the tooth by restoring missing surface area and tooth mass. 

This core build up will then provide a secure foundation that can support a gold, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or all porcelain crown.

While there are many materials that Houston dentists can use in this process, the preferred dental material in most instances is composite dental bonding resin.  This resin matches tooth color, is biofriendly to the mouth, and completely compensates for insufficient tooth mass.

The Procedure

Houston cosmetic dentists strive to create a medical environment free from fear and pain.  They like to make things as comfortable as possible for every patient.  One of the things they will almost always do is numb the area around any tooth to be worked up, including those about to be reconstructed with core build ups.   

Once comfort is established, the dentist will check the tooth for signs of decay.  If decay is present it will be removed with dental tools. 

Next, the dentist uses a mild etching solution that prepares the surface of the tooth for core build up.  This etching solution causes tiny lines to form in the tooth enamel.  These lines give the cosmetic dental bonding material a surface to more tightly attach to so it will seat more permanently into the tooth surface. 

After the etching process is complete, the cosmetic dental bonding resin will be applied to the tooth.  Some forms of resin harden on their own.  Others require exposure to a special, high-intensity light to harden. 

The core build up material now allows the tooth to be shaped so it can be fitted with a crown.  After this is completed, the dentist follows the standard procedures used to crown a tooth

Impressions of the teeth are taken and used to create a mold that functions as a working replica of the patients mouth.  It is one thing to make a crown, but it is another to make it work in proper relationship to surrounding teeth.  Crowning a tooth with awareness of tooth interdependency ensures that the newly reconstructed tooth will chew food properly and remain in alignment with existing healthy teeth.

The benefits of a core buildup

Building up a tooth in this fashion gives the patient a number of medical advantages.  These benefits include:

         Support for the remaining structure of the tooth

         Better stability and surer retention of the dental crown

         A layer of insulation that prevents the crown from irritating the sensitive pulp located in the center of the tooth. 

These facts indicate how beneficial it is to have a core build up performed on a tooth that many people would otherwise give up on.  Many assumedly doomed teeth can be spared and rebuilt with this method and cosmetically transformed with advanced dental enhancements that look and work like natural teeth.

Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont, Midland and Houston, Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth OSullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic dentistry services.