A tooth that is cracked or broken probably brings up feelings of panic. You might even be in pain if the damage occurred because you fell or had another type of accident. Regardless of how it happened, you do have options when it comes to tooth replacement and tooth repair. While the right cosmetic and restorative treatment depend a great deal on your situation, the information below gives you an idea of the many options you have available. This is especially heartening because many people think that a tooth replacement is their only option.
How Broken Teeth Happen
Your teeth are covered with a hard enamel that’s your body’s strongest tissue. In spite of its strength though, this enamel can still be cracked or even broken. Sometimes this can happen when you’re doing something — like playing that pick-up game of football without a mouth guard — that results in a tooth becoming damaged. In other cases, you might have had an accident that caused damage to your face or just your mouth in particular. Still other times, you could unexpectedly damage your teeth by eating one of your favorite foods. The American Dental Association (ADA) has compiled a list of the top foods that can damage your teeth with items like ice and hard candies being culprits that can cause breakage and chipping.
The other foods on the ADA’s list include soda, dried fruit, citrus products, sports drinks, alcohol, potato chips, and coffee. These foods contain either sugar, acids or both which can cause cavities and tooth decay. These can make your teeth more likely to break or crack when you are eating hard foods.
Repairing Teeth
When you arrive at GBP Dental, our team will consider treatment options that repair your broken or cracked tooth, if they’re valid. The actual treatment will depend on the results of a thorough examination by our dentist. Below are a few ways that we consider when it comes to repairing your broken or cracked tooth.
- Composite bonding is often a suitable method of repairing cracked or chipped teeth and can last as long as ten years. The procedure involves roughening your tooth before applying a conditioning liquid. Putty is molded and smoothed in place before an ultraviolet light is used to harden it.
- Veneers are used to cover an existing tooth and could last up to 30 years. Because they are bonded to your tooth, cosmetic veneers might not be a good option if you grind your teeth.
- Crowns are a common restorative treatment and ideal for a badly chipped tooth. They can also help if you have pain when you’re drinking or eating.
- Root canals are often necessary if the tooth’s crack extends into the pulp. It involves cleaning out the tooth matter that is decayed and clearing away the nerve.
- Dental implants are an option if your tooth cannot be saved. First, your natural tooth will be pulled then a customized dental implant will be made for you.
Any suspicion of a broken or cracked tooth means that you need to see the dental team at GBP Dental right away. The sooner you seek treatment, the more options you’ll have.