It’s not uncommon to deal with a broken or cracked tooth at some point in life. Though human teeth are strong, they can fracture, crack, or break under certain circumstances. Not only is this painful, but it also leaves your teeth open to potential infection.
It is essential that you book an appointment with a dentist right away if you have a chipped or broken tooth.
What are the primary causes of cracked teeth?
Common causes of broken teeth can include:
- Untreated cavities can cause a tooth to become weak and break
- Injury from sports
- Trauma to the face as a result of an accident
- Eating something hard
- Old, big amalgam fillings can make the remaining structure of the natural tooth brittle over time.
How to treat a broken or chipped tooth?
Dental crowns
Dental crowns preserve the function and appearance of teeth that are severely damaged or broken. They are placed over your existing tooth in order to protect it and make it look more aesthetically pleasing. A dental crown can be made from resin, ceramic, or gold alloy. The strength and durability of your dental crown vary depending on the material it’s made of.
Before your dentist can put a crown over your broken tooth, they’ll likely need to X-ray the area for any damage done to the bone or roots beneath. If their examination reveals damage, you may require further procedures – like root canal treatment – prior to having a dental crown placed.
Veneers
A dental veneer can be used to repair surface-level damage on your tooth and restore your smile in the process. Dental veneers and dental crowns serve different purposes. Veneers are thin shells of composite resin or porcelain that are placed over the front surface of the tooth to change its appearance.
Because dental veneers are designed to match your existing teeth, it usually takes more than one visit to the dentist before the repair is finished.
Root canal therapy
When broken tooth pain is severe, a root canal may be necessary. This procedure involves removing the damaged nerve and dental pulp from the broken tooth in order to reduce the possibility of infection and restore the smile. During this procedure, the dentist will drill down into the broken tooth and remove any decayed material. They’ll then fill the empty space with a special material before sealing it off to protect it from further harm.
Bonding
Another option to consider for fixing small cracks or chips on teeth is bonding. Dental bonding is a faster way to improve the look of your teeth than getting dental crowns.
In order to repair a tooth with bonding, the dentist will need to roughen up the tooth’s surface so that the bonding material can properly stick. A tooth-coloured resin is attached to the natural tooth and hardened with ultraviolet light, leaving the patient with a flawless smile.
Implants
If a tooth is too damaged to fix or has been knocked out, one of the viable ways to restore the smile is to have the tooth extracted and replaced with a dental implant. When a tooth suffers this much damage, it is classified as a dental emergency. No matter the case, your emergency dentist’s number one priority will be to ease your pain. They will then skillfully extract any tooth fragments and insert a dental implant into the gap left by the missing tooth. Dental implants are among the most effective ways to replace lost teeth, and they last for several years. Click on this link.
How to self-care for a broken tooth?
If you are in pain and cannot visit your dentist immediately, there are some things you can do at home to ease the discomfort.
Although you may be tempted, try not to eat until after your dentist has had a chance to look at your teeth. If you’re hungry, drink something or eat soft foods that won’t require a lot of chewing. This lessens the likelihood of you biting down on your cracked tooth and making the damage worse.
Cover any sharp or jagged edges on your broken tooth with a small amount of dental wax to protect your mouth. You should not use too much force on your affected tooth, or you risk making the damage worse.
To soothe a painful tooth, use over-the-counter pain medication as indicated on the packaging. You could also try using a salt water rinse to ease gum and mouth discomfort, as well as prevent bacterial infection.
Get your broken tooth examined immediately at Parramatta Green Dental
At Parramatta Green Dental, our experienced dentists are well-equipped to treat broken teeth and provide effective treatments for any dental emergency. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that our patients receive quality care and results they can be proud of.
Contact us at (02) 9538 7875 today if you have a broken tooth so we can help restore your smile.
References
Fractured and Broken Teeth
https://www.colgate.com/en-gb/oral-health/dental-emergencies-and-sports-safety/fractured-and-broken-teeth
What to Do for Pain and a Broken Tooth
https://www.healthline.com/health/toothache-broken-tooth