Your teeth are designed to withstand wear and tear as you bite and chew constantly throughout the day. However, you might accidentally endure too much pressure due to an ill-timed bite that could cause a tooth to chip, crack, or fracture.
If a tooth breaks, it creates a vulnerable spot on the tooth that will worsen over time and heighten your risk of infections, decay, and other problems. So you will want to visit your dentist to receive emergency dental care to fix the tooth.
The type of treatment you can expect for a broken tooth will depend on the severity and location of the dental injury. Find three ways your dentist might repair a tooth breakage in your smile when you read on.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Some people may feel dismayed when a small crack or chip disrupts the even and beautiful appearance of their smiles. In the event of this minor tooth breakage, a dentist might use cosmetic dental treatments to fix the problem.
For instance, a dentist can make custom-made shells called porcelain veneers that will cover and reshape the affected teeth. The caps adhere to the front of the teeth using composite resin bonding. They hide the damage while also creating a seal to protect the vulnerable area of the tooth.
Veneers can only help certain areas of the tooth, and more severe dental breakage will require more extensive treatment. But many patients can benefit from smile enhancement with veneers.
Dental Crown
In the event of a crack, chip, or fracture above the gumline in your tooth, a dentist might use a dental crown to repair the damage. Dentists build crowns on a custom basis for their patients. They are ceramic caps that fit over a tooth’s surface to shield the damaged tooth.
Crowns stay in place with dental cement, restoring the tooth’s function, appearance, and health. Their durable fit and makeup ensure long-lasting protection to the tooth. It can stay in place for fifteen years with proper care, so follow your dentist’s aftercare advice for best results.
Extensive Dental Restoration
If your tooth suffers a fracture that extends below the gumline, then a dentist cannot reach the damaged area to fix the breakage. Though you cannot see the damage, it will still prove dangerous to your oral health.
In this case, a dentist might need to extract the damaged tooth to prevent further harm to your smile. Sometimes, a dentist might be able to remove only part of the damaged tooth to preserve some of its structure.
Your dentist can explain the extent of the damage and the required treatment when you attend an emergency dental appointment. They can remove the tooth carefully in a simple procedure, but you can anticipate some downtime to recover.
To avoid complications caused by missing teeth, you will need to talk to your dentist about tooth replacement options to fully restore your smile. Your dentist can discuss your eligibility for dental implants and other treatments when you book a consultation appointment.