If you have a broken tooth or know someone who does, it must have crossed your mind to know whether it is fixable. Before we go any further, we have three answers for you. The first answer is yes, the second answer yes, and (yes, you guessed right!) the third answer is yes! That’s a lot of yes-es.
A chipped or broken tooth can be perfectly treated to regain its function and aesthetic and if you have always worried about your smile, don’t worry anymore. Your tooth could end up better looking after treatment than before it even got fractured.
While it is an indisputable fact that the enamel is the hardest substance in the body, it definitely has its strength limits beyond which it will break.
It is also very important to note one thing—that a broken tooth is an emergency. So, before you see your dentist -which should be as soon as possible – you should take first aid measures by applying gentle pressure on the gums around the tooth to stop bleeding (if there is any). You can also take a pain reliever and avoid eating anything too hot or cold to avoid sensitivity.
Here, let us take you through some of the treatment options for a broken tooth:
Dental Filling or Bonding
If the damage to the tooth is restricted to the enamel and is minimal i.e. only a small portion broke off, your dentist might use a restorative material to fill it. If the crack is in a place where it compromises your smile, your dentist might use a plastic resin to bond and improve the appearance of the tooth.
Painlessly, a blue light is then used to harden the structure and the tooth is fixed.
2. Dental Cap or Crown
This is a suitable treatment option when a large portion of the tooth breaks off. Crowns are made of metal, ceramic, resin, or porcelain fused to metal. When taken care of properly, a crown can last for the rest of one’s life.
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3. Dental Veneers
Coloured shells are used to improve your smile. Like a false nail that covers a fingernail, the veneer covers the whole section of the tooth and a thicker section covers the broken part of the tooth.
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4. Root Canal Therapy
This procedure is used to treat a cracked or broken tooth that involves the pulp layer of the tooth and that can lead to infection and pain. The pulp is at the center of the tooth and it houses the nerves and blood vessels.
In addition, to root canal therapy, the tooth may then be covered with a crown.
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5. Dental Implant
Here, the broken tooth is removed. The implant is then fixed in a relatively long but simple procedure.
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6. Dental Sealant
Sealants are preventive because they can act against cavity-causing bacteria. In addition, they can be used to fix tooth holes.
In conclusion, depending on the extent of the damage to your tooth, your dentist will decide on the best course of treatment.
Each of these options, of course, has a different duration and cost of treatment. This however depends on how severe the damage is and what options are best suited to you.
This article does not however, substitute the professional care you should receive from your healthcare provider.
Want to request an appointment? Book a virtual appointment or even visit us at our clinic.
Read our article on health secrets your teeth can reveal here.