Fixing a broken or cracked tooth

Have you recently suffered an accident or tried to eat something harder than your teeth could handle, resulting in a painful and unsightly broken tooth? Have you developed a hole in your tooth from a cavity that needs to be filled? Although this may seem distressing, please rest assured that there are a number of ways your dentist can resolve this problem for you. Please don’t hesitate - call and make an appointment today. It might mean the difference between a simple fix tomorrow or a bigger problem down the road!

How will my dentist repair my tooth?

There are a number of minimally invasive procedures that your dentist might utilize to fix your broken tooth. Fillings, for example, are a simple, safe, and cost-effective solution. In this procedure, your dentist will use the appropriate filling materials for that part of the mouth to repair the cracks or breaks in the bone and thereby quickly solve your broken tooth problem. Bonding, though it doesn’t have the name-recognition that fillings do, is a similar procedure in which your dentist simply applies a composite material to the tooth that then becomes molded or “bonded” to the tooth by adhering and hardening it like glue with an ultraviolet blue light. Safe, easy, quick, and painless!

If you have a tooth that has acquired a cavity rather than a crack or break, a dental sealant may be what you require. If that’s the case, your dentist will apply a barrier or sealant to your tooth (or teeth) that will not only remedy the problem at hand, but also further protect you from future cavities.

In cases where a large portion of your tooth has been affected by cracking, breaking, or cavities, your dentist may choose to use a crown to fix your problem. This is much as it sounds: rather than filling or sealing the break with a composite material, your dentist will use a cap or crown made of metal, porcelain, or ceramic to cover the entire tooth and prevent further damage. This procedure, like filling, bonding, or sealing, is a safe way to fix a damaged tooth and a very common one, at that.

What if the damage is more extensive?

If the damage to your tooth or teeth is more extensive, you may require a more involved procedure, such as a root canal, dental implants, or veneers. A root canal becomes necessary when the opening created by the cracked or broken tooth has allowed bacteria to get in and create an infection in that area. During a root canal, your dentist will work to treat the infection by removing the damaged tissue and then place a crown on the tooth, as described above, to prevent further infections and other problems.

Did you break your tooth or teeth close to the gum line? In that case, a dental implant may be just what the dentist ordered to remedy the situation. In this procedure, which is more involved that the others previously described but still simple and routine, your dentist will remove the damaged tooth and implant a perfect new one, made of composite material.

Finally, if broken teeth are a sore spot for you in terms of how they look or what they do to your confidence or self-esteem, veneers are one way to dramatically improve the appearance of your teeth and smile. In this cosmetic procedure, your dentist will fashion shells made of porcelain or composite material to snugly cover your teeth, creating the immediate appearance of perfect, white teeth that will make you want to smile all day long!

Don’t delay - call your dentist today!

Please remember, a broken tooth isn’t the end of the world, but it is something that needs to be evaluated and fixed to prevent further problems in the future. Please don’t hesitate to give our office a call so that we can determine which of these solutions will be the right one for you!