Two Options For Fixing Broken Teeth
Broken teeth are an unfortunate fact of life. Regardless of how the damage occurs—through physical trauma or disease—getting your teeth fixed as soon as possible is critical to your oral health. The best treatment for the damage, though, depends on how badly the tooth is broken. Here are your options for fixing broken teeth.
Modest Injuries
Small tooth fractures can often be fixed with a simple filling. Essentially, the dentist applies a resin to the tooth to fill in the gap, shaping as necessary. The resin is then hardened using a UV light, so that you can use the tooth like normal. This procedure can also be used to reattach a broken piece to the original tooth, which is a good solution for damaged front teeth.
In some cases, though, a filling is not enough to fix the tooth, but the break or crack doesn't rise to the level of needing critical care, such as a root canal. For these teeth, the dentist may recommend getting crowns or veneers. While they both hide the damage, veneers only partially cover the tooth, making them more appropriate for front teeth. Crowns fit over the entire thing and can be used for both front and back teeth.
It's important to make an appointment to see a dentist as soon as possible after injuring your tooth. As noted previously, sometimes the broken part can be reattached, but you must act quickly. Even if the damage can't be easily repaired, getting your tooth fixed fast can prevent future issues.
Significant Cracking or Chipping
For major damage, such as deep cracks or large missing chunks, more extensive repair will be required. You may need to get a root canal to fix cracks that extend down to the pulp, for example, because an exposed pulp is susceptible to infection and can cause long-term oral health problems if left untreated. After removing the pulp, the dentist will cover the hole with either a filling or crown.
A severely broken tooth where much of it is missing or rotted may need to be removed altogether to prevent further complications. The missing tooth can then be replaced with an implant, which will function the same as a regular tooth and can last a lifetime if properly maintained.
Regardless of how broken, cracked, or rotted a tooth may be, there is a way to fix the problem and restore your smile. Connect with a local dentist for more information about these and other treatment options available.