Core buildup is a dental restoration used to repair an excessively decayed, traumatized or otherwise damaged tooth.
The term core is used to define the main body of the tooth's structure that excludes the root. Effectively, it is what remains of the tooth's crown – the portion of the tooth that can be seen above the gumline in a healthy mouth.
With this dental procedure code, a white or tooth-colored filling made of composite resin is used to repair the damaged areas of the tooth, typically in preparation for the eventual placement of a prosthetic crown.
Such resins are considered tooth-colored because of their unique ability to mirror the color, texture and luminescence of your own teeth. Resin also bonds more securely with the healthy portions of a tooth than traditional amalgam.
The process for this procedure is identical to that of a common filling, except a large surface area of the tooth typically needs to be repaired. This area can include the sides of the tooth as well as the biting surface. Additionally, metal pins are used to further secure the bonding material to the healthy portions of the tooth to enhance its stability and strength.
To prepare for a core buildup with pins, a dentist will first remove any decayed or weakened areas of the tooth. Then, your tooth will be prepared for bonding by etching it with a mild acid solution.
After this, self-setting screw pins are screwed into the tooth to act as a framework for the composite filling, which is then layered into its new form.
Finally, a special light is used to harden these layers and the tooth is shaped and polished to provide the ideal look and biting surface in preparation for future prosthetic crown placement.
To look up and find more CDT dental codes from the American Dental Association, please visit our complete Dental Procedure Code Library.