5 Dental Procedures to Fix a Broken or Cracked Tooth
It’s possible that you hit concrete. perhaps you were gnawing on hard sweets or ice. It can be a scary moment when you first realize you have a cracked or fractured tooth. But do not fret. You can restore both your smile and your teeth.
Many customers at Primecare Family Dental come to us with cracked or damaged teeth. And together with our amiable staff, our dentist has the skills necessary to deal with this kind of circumstance.
Damaged teeth can be repaired using restorative and aesthetic procedures. Depending on how much your tooth has been injured, you will need the appropriate treatment. You do, however, have choices, and modern developments mean you are no longer constrained by having unsightly teeth.
The causes of fractured or cracked teeth in patients
Even though the tissue covering your teeth, called enamel, is the strongest in your body, it can still break or crack.
There are numerous methods to harm teeth. Perhaps you were engaging in behavior that you shouldn’t have, such as chewing on a pencil or playing football without a mouth-guard. Or perhaps you experienced a frightening fall, collision, or blow.
The top nine items that harm your teeth, according to the American Dental Association, are hard candies, ice, citrus, coffee, dried fruit, potato chips, soda, alcohol, and sports drinks.
Additionally, tooth decay or cavities can weaken your teeth, making it more likely that they will shatter when you eat tough food.
Kinds of broken / cracked teeth
There are various varieties of broken teeth.
- Craze Lines: Only the outside enamel is affected by these microscopic flaws. Adults frequently experience craze lines. Beyond how they appear, they are superficial, do not hurt, and pose no threat.
- Broken cusp: A fractured cusp is what is left behind after a piece of a tooth’s chewing surface breaks off. Typically, it doesn’t hurt too bad.
- Chipped Tooth: A cracked tooth is one that has a crack that runs vertically from the chewing surface towards the tooth’s root. In order to save the tooth in this situation, early detection is crucial. If a cracked tooth is not treated, it will deteriorate over time and eventually fall out.
- Split Tooth: A tooth that has been broken for a while typically splits. It can be recognised by a crack that has separable, distinct segments. A split tooth can’t be kept whole.
- Root fracture that is vertical: These fissures run from the tooth’s root towards the chewing surface. They frequently exhibit few symptoms and indicators. They are frequently found when the gum and bone around them become diseased.
The following five methods can fix a chipped or damaged tooth.
Which of the following procedures is most suitable for you and your mouth will be decided by our dentist.
Dental Bonding
Composite bonding can be used to fix teeth that are gapped, malformed, decaying, chipped, cracked, or discolored. Up to ten years can pass after composite bonding. If bonding is being utilized to fill cavities, anesthesia won’t be necessary during the procedure.
Your teeth will be roughened by our dentist, who will also apply a liquid conditioner. We’ll smooth, mould, and apply putty. The composite is then made to solidify under an ultraviolet light. The tooth bonding will be sculpted and polished to match the rest of the teeth after it has dried and hardened.
Veneers
They are tooth-covering materials. We employ porcelain veneers at our dental practise because they produce the most aesthetically pleasing and realistic outcomes.
When the veneer is attached to the tooth’s front, the tooth’s look is altered. Veneers can last up to 30 years with proper maintenance, so you won’t need to worry about getting them updated frequently.
You can get veneers put on one tooth or several teeth. Furthermore, you can decide how you want your veneer to appear. For many people, this cosmetic procedure is undoubtedly a superb choice. However, since you would wear down your veneers if you grind your teeth, veneers may not be suggested for you.
How veneers are put in your teeth
- The teeth must first be cleaned and prepared for veneers. So that the tooth doesn’t appear bulky, a dentist will need to carefully remove portion of the dental structure.
- There will be a need to take impressions. You will have the ability to choose the size, shape, and colour of your veneer at this point.
- You will need to wear temporary veneers while the lab fabricates the veneers, which will take some time.
- The temporary veneers will be taken off at a subsequent session, and the fresh veneers will be bonded to the tooth’s front.
Crowns
You could require a crown if your tooth is severely chipped or you experience pain when chewing or drinking. One of the most popular restorative procedures is the use of crowns.
A dental crown is a cap that protects the tooth, enhances its beauty, and covers it. It serves as a sturdy shield for your teeth. Receiving a crown keeps your tooth from falling out. A tooth that has suffered damage won’t be able to tolerate chewing pressure without a crown.
In order to achieve a natural, consistent appearance, our dentist clinic uses porcelain crowns that are tooth-colored. Each patient receives a custom-made crown that properly matches their tooth.
This is how crowns are affixed to teeth:
- Anesthesia will first be administered to you to make the process more comfortable. Sedation is another option you have if you want to unwind even further. We provide secure, comforting sedation dentistry at our dental clinic.
- The tooth must then be prepared. To create room for the crown, some tooth structures will probably need to be removed.
- Our dentist will take imprints when the tooth is prepped. Using the CEREC system, we can produce a stunning porcelain crown in just one appointment. When you select same-day CEREC porcelain crowns, this translates to fewer appointments and significantly quicker outcomes.
- The temporary one will be affixed to the remaining tooth structure until the permanent one is ready.
Root Canal
A root canal can be used to treat a tooth if a break has reached the pulp area of the tooth. A crown can be positioned to stop the crack from expanding after the root canal procedure. You will be given a temporary crown to wear up until that point.
A root canal involves removing the tooth’s nerve and decaying dental material. The reputation of this technique as being painful is poor.
However, if it is done correctly, you should experience no pain or very little discomfort. You could require a root canal if you have swelling, sensitivity, or a toothache. If an infection is not treated, it may spread and result in abscess, bone loss, and other major issues.
Here is how root canal treatment functions:
- In order to evaluate whether your tooth is infected, our office will take x-rays.
- You will next receive an anesthetic to lessen pain. We’re delighted to offer safe sedation at our office for patients who request it in order to stay calm during the treatment.
- The pulp and nerve of the tooth will next be removed using a drill.
- The tooth is then cemented to stop the spread of infection.
- When a tooth’s stability has been jeopardised, a crown is applied on the top.
- The complete course of treatment will probably require more than one dentist visit.
Dental Implant
Your tooth can no longer be treated and cannot be salvaged if it has a crack that extends below the gum line. You will require a tooth extraction, which entails having your tooth pulled. After that, you can replace your natural tooth with a dental implant.
The lost teeth are replaced by dental implants. They are implanted firmly in your jawbone for a long-lasting fit and serve as the new root of your tooth.
What happens during a dental implant procedure?
- The new root of your tooth is created by surgically inserting biocompatible titanium screws into your jawbone.
- It will take some time for the bone to fuse with the titanium screws, creating a solid, long-lasting foundation.
- We will take an imprint of your teeth after 12 to 16 weeks to make sure your treatment is progressing as it should. During this procedure, the Primecare Family Dental team – will modify the abutment and make the dental crown that will be affixed to the implant.
- Your permanent crown will be positioned by our dentists and checked for a snug, secure fit during a subsequent appointment.
Why you should have a cracked or fractured tooth evaluated right away?
You should visit a dentist immediately, if you have a cracked or fractured tooth. Why? so that you can prevent infection and more injury. Possibly even preserving your tooth.
Visit Primecare Family Dental at Pendleton Pike in Lawrence, Indiana, if you have a cracked or broken tooth. In our dental practice, we treat patients in the same manner as we would like to be treated. We wish to surpass your expectations and dazzle you.
Make an appointment to have your tooth repaired right now by calling (317) 426-1562. We would be honored to assist you in achieving a stunning smile you can be proud of.