Getting a Dental Core Buildup in Miami: What to Expect

A fractured or heavily decayed tooth often requires a dental crown to seal and stabilize the tooth. But, what if there is not enough remaining tooth material to attach the crown? CG Smile has a solution. It's called a "core buildup" and Miami patients can restore the look, feel, and function of their tooth with this straightforward procedure.

What is a Core Buildup?

When a dentist mentions the "core" of the tooth, they are referring to the crown of the tooth (the portion of the tooth outside the gumline and jawbone). The core is essentially all parts of the tooth that are not the root. A core buildup means building up this area to create an adequate base structure in which to place a dental crown restoration.

How Core Buildups Work

Before recommending a patient's tooth for a core buildup, X-rays or CT scans will be performed to evaluate the viability of a crown. If a core buildup is necessary to support the crown, the procedure will progress something like this:

• A local anesthetic will be applied to the area around the tooth. This is done to reduce nerve sensitivity.
• Any areas of decay are removed.
• The tooth is cleaned and sterilized.
• A filling material (usually tooth-colored composite filling) is used to build up the surface area of the tooth. The filling material will then be hardened with a dental curing light.
• If necessary, posts or pins may be used to provide additional support for the core buildup, and ultimately the crown.
• The dentist then preps the composite and a dental cement or bonding agent is then applied.
• The crown is placed

The actual process of building up the core is actually fairly quick. A basic core buildup procedure can be performed in as little as 30 to 60 minutes. If a post and core is ordered, you can expect the duration of the procedure to be a bit longer.

Keep in mind that the points outlined above represent a typical core buildup. Some variances in the procedure can be expected due to the individual requirements of each patient.

Why are Core Buildups Performed?

Dental crowns require a certain amount of surface in order to form a solid grip with the tooth, a tooth needs to have a certain baseline circumference, length, and angle. Completing a core buildup of the tooth ensures a much higher crown success rate.

Without adequate surface material to place a crown, the crown would be unstable and fragile. Core buildups are performed to stabilize a tooth and to give the dental practitioner enough tooth material to confidently place a dental crown.

Scenarios that May Require a Core Buildup

Core buildups are recommended in cases where a crown may not otherwise be a viable solution. The dentist may recommend a core buildup if your tooth is:

• Extensively decayed
• Worn down
• Fractured

What is a Post and Core Procedure?

Post and core buildup procedures are used in instances where a core buildup is required, but the restoration will require a little more support than what a basic core buildup can provide. In this type of procedure, a threaded post is inserted into the tooth. The core is then built up around the post and remaining tooth structure. (This is not entirely unlike how rebar is used to stabilize concrete in construction projects.)

Do I Need a Crown Buildup Before a Crown?

Crown buildups are not always necessary before having a crown or bridge placed. You will only need a crown buildup if your dentist finds that there is insufficient surface area for a prosthodontic restoration to be placed.