Crowns · Repair, recement or replace
Broken Crown Repair & Replacement in Wilmington, NC
A crown that has come off, cracked, chipped or started to hurt needs looking at soon. Sometimes it can be recemented the same day. Sometimes the tooth underneath is the real problem.
About crown repair
Crowns fail in a handful of predictable ways. The cement washes out and the crown comes loose. Decay gets in at the edge where it meets the gum. The porcelain chips. Or the tooth underneath fractures. Each one has a different fix, and an x-ray tells us which one we are dealing with.
If the crown and the tooth are both sound, we clean and recement it. If the crown is damaged or decay has got underneath, it gets replaced. When the tooth itself has broken, we can often restore it with a same-day crown.
How it works
- Exam and x-rayWe check whether the crown, the cement or the tooth underneath has failed.
- Recement or repairA sound crown on a sound tooth is cleaned and cemented back on. A small porcelain chip can sometimes be smoothed or bonded.
- Replacement if neededDecay is removed, the tooth is built back up if necessary, and a new crown is made from a digital scan.
- Bite checkWe adjust the contacts and bite so the new or recemented crown carries load evenly.
Recovery and aftercare
If the crown comes off before you can get here, keep it, keep the tooth clean, and avoid chewing on that side. Do not glue it back yourself with household adhesive; it traps decay under the crown and makes the eventual repair harder.
Cost and coverage
Recementing a crown that is still in good condition is a small visit. A replacement is priced as a new crown, and most dental plans cover it at their crown percentage once the original is past the plan's replacement window, commonly five to seven years. We check that window before quoting.
You may be a candidate if
- A crown that has come off, whole or in pieces
- A crown that feels loose or moves when you chew
- Chipped or cracked porcelain
- A dark line or gap at the gum edge of an old crown
- Pain, sensitivity or a bad taste around a crowned tooth
Crown Repair & Replacement by town
We see patients from across New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties.
In their own words
Hear from Dr. Carter Lee
Dr. Lee on fixing only what needs fixing, and what it is like to hand a patient the mirror after a smile transformation.
Questions we get asked
My crown fell off. Is it an emergency?
Call us that day. It is rarely painful, but the exposed tooth is weak and can break or decay quickly, and the sooner it is covered the more likely the original crown can go back on.
Can you just glue my old crown back on?
Often, yes, if the crown is intact and the tooth underneath is healthy. We check both before recementing.
Why does my crowned tooth hurt?
Common causes are decay at the margin, a crack in the tooth, a high bite, or a nerve that is failing. An x-ray and a bite test usually tell which.
How long should a crown last?
Ten to fifteen years is typical. If yours failed much sooner, there is usually a cause worth finding, such as grinding.
Can a chipped porcelain crown be repaired?
A small chip can sometimes be polished or bonded. A larger fracture usually means replacing the crown.
Crown Repair & Replacement
Call. Do not wait it out.
We keep time open each morning for urgent cases. Monday through Thursday, 8:00 to 5:00, and Friday, 8:00 to 12:00.
- Same-day appointments where the schedule allows
- Emergency patients seen whether or not you are established here
- Extractions and oral surgery on site
- Pain relief first, permanent plan second
Not sure it counts as an emergency? Call and describe it. We will tell you.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
