A broken tooth is a serious dental issue. Teeth can crack and fracture in different ways. The crack location, type and magnitude determine how your dentist will approach treatment. Do not assume a cracked or broken tooth will still function like a regular tooth. Visit your dentist as soon as you suspect or know you have a broken tooth.
The early diagnosis of your broken tooth is essential to preserve its integrity. If the crack moves into the pulp, then we must treat the tooth with a root canal as soon as possible. We will then add a crown to stop the crack from expanding. If the crack moves below the gums, it will not be treatable.
This is precisely why it is important to schedule an appointment with us right away. If the broken tooth does not receive treatment soon enough, then we will have to extract the tooth. Otherwise, the tooth will worsen to the point that it splits. A split tooth will only cause more damage and risk to the patient's mouth.
The crack's extent and location will determine if we can save any portion of the tooth. Endodontic treatment might be necessary to save at least some part of the tooth. If there is a vertical root fracture that starts at the tooth root and moves toward the surface, treatment might require tooth extraction. If we can preserve the fractured segment of the tooth, then endodontic surgery will be the next step.
Dental bonding is the most popular means of repairing a chipped tooth. The dentist fills the space in between the teeth with a substance that is subsequently treated with an ultraviolet light. This substance hardens to match the strength, consistency and texture of a regular tooth.
The bonding composite won't have to be filed or shaped after setting occurs. In the end, dental bonding makes your chipped tooth look just like a normal tooth.
If the tooth crack or chip is too large to be treated with a bonded composite, a crown will be used. The crown serves as a protective covering. It is empty on the inside so it can slip over the entire tooth structure. Crown placement requires the removal of a small amount of nearby healthy enamel.
If you shirk at the idea of removing a bit of enamel to place a conventional crown, discuss dental implants with your dentist. A dental implant serves as a complete tooth replacement that provides considerable support and functionality.
The broken tooth is extracted so the implant can be connected to the empty socket. Titanium posts attach to the jaw bone in a process known as osseointegration. A crown is then added to function as the hard, protective surface that lets you eat just about any food you desire.
For more information call Smiles by Design, PC at (256) 660-3233.
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