Teeth are regularly damaged; according to the American Dental Association, 63% of dentists have seen a rise in emergency dentist visits from broken teeth. Of course, it does not make cracked tooth injuries any less unpleasant when they affect you or your kid.
Fortunately, contemporary dental procedures may restore the beauty of your smile, especially if you get to the dentist immediately and receive appropriate treatment. Because of this, it's critical to understand what to do if you get a broken tooth.
It's a good idea to visit a dentist's office to look at the remaining tooth as soon as possible to be sure the broken tooth is not a dental emergency, such as if the crack extends past the gum line (vertical root fracture) needing a whole tooth removal or even surrounding bone damage. Even if you have lost only a tiny piece, you will want your broken tooth structure repaired with a dental crown, dental bonding, or another repair to prevent tooth decay caused by a long-term cracked tooth.
You may also want to visit an emergency room to be sure you have not been harmed by a head injury, especially if you have any dizziness, confusion, or loss of consciousness. You can postpone visiting the dentist until the next day (or longer for a minor cracked tooth if the injury is contained to a single tooth or set of chipped teeth.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A BROKEN OR CHIPPED TOOTH
See your dentist immediately if your tooth is cracked, chipped, or shattered. Otherwise, you risk further damaging or infecting your teeth, which might lead to tooth loss.
Try the self-care techniques listed below in the interim:
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if the tooth hurts. Utilize salt water for rinsing your mouth.
- Cover the break if it has one to prevent a jagged edge from cutting your tongue, the inside of your lip or the cheek. You can use a piece of wax paraffin or sugarless chewing gum.
- If you need to eat, choose soft foods and refrain from biting your fractured teeth.
Depending on the extent of the damage, a fractured or chipped tooth may require treatment. If only a little fragment of enamel was damaged, the restoration might frequently be completed in only one office visit. A severely fractured or damaged tooth can need a more time-consuming and expensive operation. Here are a few techniques your dentist may use to fix your cracked or fractured tooth.
Forms of cracked or broken teeth craze lines
These fractures, which harm the enamel, the tooth's outer, white surface, are also known as small cracks. They frequently have small depths and are painless. The only thing the dentist might need to do is to smooth out the rough places and polish the region.
Minor chips often don't need to be treated, either. Chips are usually not painful, other than how they seem. There is no need to be concerned.
CRACKED TOOTH
The enamel and nerve of the tooth are both affected by the fracture. For the tooth to be saved, early identification and treatment are essential. Without intervention, the crack steadily gets worse and cannot be fixed.
MAJOR BREAKS
Because the break is deep enough to expose the nerve, it invariably results in sensitivity and pain in the tooth. The tooth's shattered portion frequently bleeds.
BROKEN TOOTH
This kind of break happens when the tooth is vertically broken into two pieces. This frequently occurs as a result of a persistent fractured tooth.
FRAYED CUSP
When teeth cusped, pointy chewing surfaces are shattered, something happens. Because the pulp is unaffected, a fractured cusp doesn't often hurt too much.
THE BREAK CAUSED BY DECAY
A cavity that weakens a tooth from the inside out might cause it to break.
ROOTS BROKEN VERTICALLY
These fissures start at the tooth's base and progress toward the chewing surface. The region around the root will become inflamed and painful if they become infected.
10 WAYS TO FIX A BROKEN TOOTH
The size and location of the fracture or break will determine the course of treatment for a damaged tooth.
The ten most frequent dental fixes for a damaged tooth are as follows:
DENTAL IMPLANT AND THE EXTRACTION OF BROKEN TEETH
If the tooth's break spreads below the gum line, extraction is the only option (removed).
When the fracture is vertical, below the gum line, it affects the roots. When parts are movable, extraction is typically the only remedy.
TOOTH DENTAL IMPLANT
A dental implant is surgically placed in the jawbone after the tooth extraction. A crown, bridge, or denture is affixed once the wound has healed.
DENTAL FILLINGS
A dentist can fix the damage with a dental filling in cases when only a little piece of enamel has broken off.
Silver amalgam or white composite resin can be used to make dental fillings (mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper).
DENTAL FUSION
Fillings seal the gap and make the tooth functional again. A dental inlay can fill up the area of a tooth significantly lacking. This repair is frequently stronger and more long-lasting than a dental filling.
The dentist will probably use a bonding approach if the chip is on the front tooth or is noticeable when smiling. A tooth-colored composite resin is adhered to the tooth's surface by the dentist using ultraviolet light during the bonding procedure.
RESHAPING
If the tooth is only slightly chipped, the dentist can fix the problem by reshaping the tooth or by polishing and smoothing the damaged region.
VENEERS
Dental veneers could be suggested if the chip is little and solely has an aesthetic impact.
The whole surface of a natural tooth is covered by a dental veneer made of porcelain or composite resin. A dental veneer can restore the appearance of a cracked front tooth by covering it.
DENTAL CROWN AND ROOT CANAL
A crown, often known as a "cap" is a covering that goes over the remaining portion of a tooth that has been severely fractured and may encompass many of the tooth's cusps.
Bacteria from the mouth might infect the pulp if the chip exposes the dentin or the pulp. A root canal may be required if the pulp is damaged and dying.
STAINLESS STEEL CROWN
During a root canal, the pulp is replaced with gutta-percha, a plastic filler. A dental professional will put a crown to cover the tooth after the root canal surgery.
The dentist can fill up the gap caused by the chipped tooth or put a temporary crown to cover it until the permanent crown is ready while the crown is being made.
ONLAY
On molars that have a substantial amount of their material gone or a big break, a dentist may employ a dental onlay.
Dental onlays are fabricated in a lab from porcelain or zirconia ceramic materials like a crown or veneer.
TOOTH SPLINT
A tooth splint can be an option if the gums and bones around the affected tooth are damaged. A tooth splint can cement a decayed tooth to a good tooth next to it. This surgery enables the gums and bones around the teeth to heal after injury.
BROKEN TOOTH REPAIR COST
Fixing a fractured tooth might cost anywhere from $300 to $2,000 if the patient does not have dental insurance, depending on the degree of the break.
Repairing a fractured tooth can often cost up to $10,000 if the patient does not have dental insurance. This is especially true when substantial work is required, such as when the patient needs an extraction, an implant, and a crown.
SUMMARY
If you have a tooth that is damaged or cracked, you should make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible.
Why? To prevent any additional harm and the possibility of infection. And you could even keep a tooth by doing so.
FAQS
CAN A BROKEN TOOTH BE FIXED?
Yes, a broken tooth is usually fixed with a filling. Fillings are among the most secure dental treatments dentists use to repair fractured teeth. The dentist uses the restorative substance to repair cracked or damaged teeth temporarily. If your tooth has a cavity, a dental procedure can help. It is both painless and cost-effective.
WHAT WILL A DENTIST DO FOR A BROKEN TOOTH?
Bonding the tooth fragment back on is one treatment for a chipped, damaged, or cracked tooth. A filling or crown (a covering that covers the broken tooth), root canal therapy for a significantly shattered tooth with exposed nerves
WHAT HAPPENS IF HALF OF YOUR TOOTH BREAKS OFF?
What if only a tiny portion of your tooth is broken? In that case, your dentist may recommend dental fillings or a dental crown to protect the remaining portion of the tooth. If you have a severe fracture, your dentist may recommend endodontic surgery to remove the fractured part of the tooth and protect the dental pulp.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO FIX A BROKEN TOOTH?
Bonding a tooth can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000, depending on how much work needs to be done on the tooth. A filling can range in price from $90 to $500. A dental veneer can cost between $500 and $1,500.
HOW IS TOOTH-COLORED COMPOSITE RESIN MADE?
Because of their hue, they are commonly referred to as tooth-colored or white fillings. Composite resin fillings are constructed of a tooth-colored resin (an acrylic resin) that has been strengthened with powdered glass filler. Resin composite material is frequently used in stages to build the final repair before being cured with ultraviolet light.
