Teeth can be damaged in various ways. Perhaps you were playing football without a mouth guard, crunching ice, or maybe you fell and cracked your tooth. Well, regardless of the cause, it is imperative to have the broken, chipped or cracked tooth fixed as soon as possible. For most people, it is the pain with a tooth injury that leads them to the dentist. However, a broken or cracked tooth does not always hurt. Regardless, if you’ve suffered an injury, a dental checkup is required. Even if you don’t experience pain, the crack tends to weaken the tooth structure, and this ultimately results in tooth decay. As you can’t determine whether treatment is necessary, as well as how to repair the broken tooth, visiting the dentist is the only viable option.
So, how can your dentist help repair your broken tooth? This article will cover some common procedures that the dentist can implement to save your cracked tooth depending on the severity of the damage.
1. Veneers
Veneers are simply covers for a tooth. There are many types of veneers, but most dentists use porcelain veneers as they give the most realistic and appealing results. A veneer is bond to the front of the tooth and therefore changing the appearance of the tooth. With proper care, veneers can last for years and so, you will not have to worry about regular replacement. Veneers can be placed on a single or multiple teeth, and it’s usually up to you to determine how you want the veneer to look. It is a cosmetic treatment, but an ideal solution for people with chipped or cracked teeth. However, veneers may not be recommended if you like to grind your teeth since they will get worn.
2. Dental Bonding
Bonding is another ideal way of treating damaged teeth, whether chipped, decayed, broken, cracked or discolored. Dental bonding can last up to ten years and so, you won’t need to undergo the process regularly. During the procedure, the dentist will roughen the damaged tooth and put a conditioning liquid. Putty will then be applied, molded to suit your requirements and then smoothed to give an appealing look. UV light is then utilized to harden the material, and when dried, the practitioner will polish the composite to match the rest of the tooth.
3. Dental Implants
If the damage happened to stretch below the gum line, then the dentist will not be able to treat the tooth. In such a case, they are going to extract the tooth and replace it with a dental implant. Dental implants simply take the place of the missing tooth, and they act as the tooth’s new root. If you do not have adequate bone for dental implants, the dentists will perform a bone graft procedure.
Other common procedures that can save your broken tooth are crowns and root canal therapy. Again, I advise you to seek immediate dental consultation if you suspect or know that your tooth is cracked or broken. This will save you from further damage and potential infections.