Patricia lives in Lebanon. Three years ago her dentist found a crack in one of her lower molars. It was not causing pain, there was no emergency, and life was busy. She was told to watch it and come back if anything changed.
Nothing changed dramatically. But over three years, the crack got longer and the tooth got more sensitive. By the time she came to Castlewood Dental Group — after moving to the area and needing a new provider — the crack had reached the point where a crown was no longer optional. The tooth structure remaining after the damaged portions were removed was enough to hold a crown, but just barely.
If she had come in a year earlier, the procedure would have been simpler and the outcome just as good. She is fine now. But she would have been fine then too, with less work.
What a Dental Crown Does
A crown is a cap that fits over a tooth. It restores the shape, size, and strength of a tooth that has been damaged enough that a filling will not hold it together.
The situations that most commonly lead to a crown: a cracked tooth where the crack threatens the remaining structure, a tooth that has had a root canal and needs protection, a tooth broken by trauma or decay that has lost too much of its original structure to repair with a filling, and an anchor tooth for a bridge when a neighboring tooth is missing.
The crown itself is made to match the shade and shape of the surrounding teeth. At Castlewood Dental Group, crowns are done in-office, which means you do not travel to a specialist in Abingdon or Kingsport for the procedure. You come to Castlewood, the tooth is prepared, and a custom restoration is placed.
What a Bridge Does
A dental bridge fills the space left by a missing tooth. It uses the teeth on either side of the gap as anchors, and a false tooth — called a pontic — spans the space between them.
A bridge is a fixed restoration, meaning it is cemented in place and does not come out. It restores chewing function, prevents the surrounding teeth from shifting into the gap over time, and restores the appearance of a full row of teeth.
The anchor teeth on each side of a bridge typically require crowns, which means a bridge involves two crown preparations plus the pontic. The procedure is done over two appointments at Castlewood Dental.
An implant is the other common option for a single missing tooth. Unlike a bridge, an implant does not involve the neighboring teeth. Both are legitimate solutions and the right choice depends on the condition of the surrounding teeth, bone density, and the patient’s priorities. The team at Castlewood Dental will explain both options.
When to Get the Tooth Checked
If your dentist has mentioned a crack, a failing filling, or a tooth that is going to need attention eventually, do not put it off until it hurts. The pain usually arrives after the situation has worsened. A tooth that is cracked but intact is a different procedure than one that has split.
Castlewood Dental Group sees patients from Lebanon, St. Paul, Dante, Honaker, and throughout Russell County. The office is at 19308 US Hwy 58 in Castlewood, Virginia, open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
If you have a tooth you have been meaning to get looked at, now is the time. Call (276) 762-2323.