What to Do About a Fractured Tooth

1. What to Do About a Fractured Tooth What Is A Fractured Tooth? A fractured tooth is not all that unusual. Although our teeth are made strong enough to break some fairly hard substances, they can crack if the force applied is beyond their controls. For instance, while you might be able to chomp down on a firm apple without harming the teeth, chances are you may break a tooth if you tried to do the same thing with full walnut in the shell. Chewing down on a solid substance is among the most common causes of fractured teeth. Being in a crash where the face was injured or falling down on your face are other general reasons. In addition, if you have big fillings, these fillings can naturally compromise the level of your tooth making it more prone to fracturing or cracking. Treatment for a broken or fractured tooth depends on how seriously it is broken. If only a small piece of a tooth has broken off, the fix often can be done easily in one office visit. A severely broken or damaged tooth requires a more prolonged and costly process. Below are some ways your dental professional can repair your fractured or chipped tooth. Dental Filling or Bonding If you have chipped off just a small bit of tooth enamel, your dental professional will repair the crack with a filling. If the repair is to a front tooth or may be seen when you smile, your dental professional will use a process called bonding which uses a tooth-colored composite resin. Bonding, a basic procedure that does not require numbing the tooth, is done by the dentist etching its surface with a fluid or gel to strengthen it and make the bonding substance stick to it. Dental Crown or Cap If a large part of a tooth cracks or has a lot of decay, the dentist will file it down to what’s left of the tooth and then cover it with a cap made to secure the tooth and enhance its look. If the complete top of the tooth is damaged, but the root remains intact, the dental professional or an endodontist will perform a root canal and set a pin or a post in the canal. Dental Veneers If a front tooth is damaged or chipped, a dental veneer makes it look healthful again. A dental veneer is a slim shell of tooth-colored porcelain ceramic or resin composite material that covers the entire front of the tooth with a thick section to restore the broken area of the tooth. When the veneer is in place, a special light would be used to activate chemicals in the bond to make it harden instantly. The first thing to realize is that this is not something that can be treated at home. If you suspect you have a cracked tooth, you have to make a scheduled visit with your dentist immediately so proper tests can be carried out to know what caused the crack and the best way to treat it. The earlier the fracture is dealt with, the less the damage.