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412 Garrison Ave., Suite 2, Fort Smith, AR 72901Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. · Friday – Sunday: ClosedMonday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.Dr. Ivy Kimbrough, Dentist license (DDS) · AR License no. 000000Cristal Venegas, Dental hygienist license (RDH) · AR License no. 000000Tuyet Dinh, Dental hygienist license (RDH) · AR License no. 000000
2 more licenses
  • Dr. Ivy Kimbrough, Dentist license (DDS) · AR License no. 000000
  • Cristal Venegas, Dental hygienist license (RDH) · AR License no. 000000
  • Tuyet Dinh, Dental hygienist license (RDH) · AR License no. 000000
(479) 555-0100
Kimbrough Family DentalFort Smith, Arkansas
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Repairing a tooth

Fillings and crowns

A filling repairs a tooth with a cavity. A crown covers one that is cracked or too worn for a filling.

Dr. Kimbrough shows you the tooth on the X-ray or in a mirror, says which she would choose and why, and gives you the estimate in writing. A crown usually takes two visits.

  • Shown on the X-ray or in a mirror first

  • A written estimate before treatment

  • The material named in the estimate

A single crown beside a teaching model of an implant

What happens, in order

A filling takes one visit. A crown usually takes two.

  1. 01

    Step 1: Look and X-ray

    She checks the tooth and takes an X-ray if she needs one, then explains what is there.

  2. 02

    Step 2: Numb and clean out

    The tooth is numbed, and the decayed or cracked part is removed.

  3. 03

    Step 3: Fill or shape for a crown

    A filling is placed and shaped to your bite. For a crown, the tooth is shaped, an impression or scan is taken, and a temporary crown covers it until the next visit.

  4. 04

    Step 4: Fit the crown

    At the second visit the crown is fitted, and she checks your bite before you leave.

Before you decide

  • Comfort

    The tooth is numbed first, and she checks that the numbing has taken. Raise a hand for a break at any time.

  • If you wait

    A small cavity grows. A cracked tooth can split further. Waiting sometimes makes the repair larger, and sometimes the tooth is fine to watch. She tells you which she thinks it is.

  • Risks and after-care

    The tooth can be sensitive for a few days. Avoid chewing on the numb side until it wears off. Call us if your bite feels high or the sensitivity lasts.

  • How it's billed

    We give you a written estimate before any work starts. The estimate names the material, such as porcelain or metal, and its fee. Insurance, paying without it and financing are explained on the fees page.

    How fees work

Questions about fillings and crowns

Filling or crown: how do you decide?

By how much of the tooth is left and how it is cracked or worn. Dr. Kimbrough shows you and explains, and the choice is yours.

What are crowns made of?

Porcelain, metal or a combination. Each has trade-offs, which she explains, and the estimate names the one she recommends.

How long does the numbness last?

Usually a few hours. Wait until it wears off before you chew, so you don't bite your cheek or tongue.

Have a tooth looked at

Send a request and we will find a time to look at it.

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Provided by a general dentist, Dr. Ivy Kimbrough, DDS.