Everything You Need to Know about Broken Teeth
A broken tooth is a frustrating thing. You may struggle to eat comfortably and suffer from pain for quite a while. It is challenging to endure this kind of discomfort for an extended period. If you are struggling with this condition, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with your dentist as quickly as possible.
WHY DO TEETH BREAK?
Sometimes, teeth can break because they are unhealthy already. Weak teeth are more likely to chip than stronger ones. Tooth decay also eats away at the enamel. You may at risk of breaking your tooth if you are experiencing the following:
- Acid reflux or heartburn
- Eating disorders
- Excessive alcohol consumption
It’s important to note that fruit juices, coffee, and other acid-producing foods can damage your teeth. If you are fifty years of age or older, you have a much higher risk of weakened enamel.
HOW CAN YOU CHIP YOUR TOOTH?
Teeth can break because you bite down on hard candy, fall, or get into a horrible car accident. This incident could also occur because you grind your teeth while you are sleeping, or you are playing contact sports without a mouthguard. While it can be a bit of a hassle, it will likely save you a lot of pain later on if you get yourself a mouth guard, mainly if you frequently participate in contact sports.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A CHIPPED TOOTH?
You could have a minor chip in one of your teeth that is in the back of your mouth, but you may not even be aware of the issue. However, if it is in the front of your mouth, you will likely experience the following symptoms:
- Feeling a jagged surface when you run your tongue over your teeth
- Pain from pressure on your tooth when biting into food
- Tongue irritation
- Gum irritation near the chipped tooth
WHAT TO DO BEFORE SEEING A DENTIST
Unfortunately, you might not be able to see a dentist immediately. If you can only schedule an appointment in a few weeks, you’ll want to place dental wax on your chipped tooth for the time being. However, this is only recommended if you have a minor chip. If a large part of your tooth has broken off, this could actually do more harm than good, so you’ll have to schedule an appointment as quickly as possible and leave it alone for the time being. It’s important to only chew on the side of your mouth that doesn’t contain the damaged tooth.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR TEETH
It can be all too easy to chip your tooth when you are playing sports or munching on hard candies during your lunch break. However, this is highly uncomfortable. We are here to help you feel and look your best.
DENTAL TREATMENTS FOR BROKEN TEETH
So, you’ve chipped your tooth playing football or munching on hard candy a little too often. You’re probably wondering what treatments are available.
DENTAL SEALANTS
Dental fissure seals are an excellent option if you are looking to get the holes in your teeth fixed. They will protect your cracked tooth. These also aid in preventing damage to your teeth from bacteria. Dental sealants are placed on your premolars and molars.
BONDING
Dentists deposit resin onto the surface of the broken tooth in order to repair it. This will typically last for around four to eight years. Bonding will, of course, be adequate for a more extended period of time if you are mindful of your eating and chewing habits.
VENEERS
Porcelain or dental veneers are an excellent option if you would like to improve the appearance of your tooth without it being obvious. These are fragile shells that are custom-made to fit the shape of your tooth. They are bonded to the front of the tooth and are precisely the same colour as all of your other pearly whites, so you can smile confidently without forever having to remember the time that you broke your tooth. It is a great way to take care of yourself and repair any damage that has been done.
You’ll be pleased to know that veneers do not damage your teeth in any way. On the contrary, they protect your pearly whites from decay and many other potential problems. They also strengthen your teeth, so they are indeed an excellent choice.
CROWNS
Crowns can restore your tooth because they form a cap around it right above the gum line. You might want to consider getting a filling instead of a crown if you have only experienced minor damage to your tooth. However, crowns are your best bet if the damage is significant.
IMPLANTS
This might be a good procedure for you if you have experienced significant damage to your tooth or even lost one of your pearly whites while participating in the activities that you enjoy. A dental implant is a metal post that replaces the root of the missing tooth and an artificial crown is placed on the extension of the post. This ensures that your teeth will still look real, so you don’t have to worry about that.
ROOT CANALS
If your tooth is both infected and broken, then a root canal might be a good option for you to consider. The treatment will repair your tooth without having to remove it. During the procedure, the canals inside the roots of your tooth are cleaned.
DENTAL ONLAYS
Dental Onlays are created separately from the tooth itself. They are then cemented onto it later. It’s important to note that this is often a better option than composite fillings because they shrink your teeth over time, causing marginal cavities to form around them.
WEAR A NIGHT GUARD IF YOU GRIND YOUR TEETH
If you are someone who grinds your teeth while you are asleep, it might be a good idea to invest in a nightguard so that you can prevent this. It will likely preserve the health of your restored tooth.
BROKEN BABY TEETH
Babies are more vulnerable than adults in many ways, and this holds true for broken teeth. If your child has chipped a permanent tooth or a baby one, you will want to schedule an emergency appointment with your paediatric dentist. If it’s after business hours and your child has more than a minor chip in their tooth, head to the emergency room immediately.
BROKEN ADULT TEETH
When you’re an adult, chipping your tooth is not as big of a deal as it would be if you were a child. However, it is still very important to schedule an appointment with your dentist shortly after the incident. Thankfully, a chipped tooth is not considered an emergency in this case.
COMPOSITE FILLINGS
These are also referred to as composite fillings and porcelain fillings. They are explicitly designed to match the colour of your teeth and look as natural as possible, so no one will have to know the story about how you broke your tooth unless you’d like to tell it. You’ll be able to smile with confidence and ease, knowing that your beautiful smile has been preserved.
Fillings are made of ceramic and plastic compounds that chemically bond to your pearly whites. They are a great option to repair your broken tooth, and they can also be used to fill in decayed areas of your denticles. They last for a long time and strengthen your teeth.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR REPAIRED TOOTH
After you have gone to the trouble of getting your tooth repaired, you will want to treat it with care. If you do, chances are that the results will last for quite a while, and you will probably not have to worry about this issue in the future.
DON'T BITE YOUR NAILS
Even if this is a habit of yours, you might want to avoid it because it’s not very good for your teeth. Doing so will help you maintain your beautiful smile for a long time to come.
DON'T BITE INTO ANYTHING DIRECTLY IF YOUR FRONT TOOTH HAS BEEN DAMAGED
This is important. Biting into something directly can severely damage your pearly whites, so simply being mindful about this will preserve your repaired tooth.
PAY ATTENTION TO SENSITIVITY DURING DENTAL PROCEDURES
When you are getting any kind of dental work done, it’s important to take note of any sensitivity you feel too cold or whitening procedures. This will help you maintain the health of your teeth.
It is never a pleasant experience to break a tooth, particularly if it is in a very noticeable area. Luckily, we have plenty of services that can help you look and feel your best. You don’t have to worry about what people will think if you walk around with a chipped tooth or continuously experience pain.
We can help it look like you never even chipped your tooth in the first place. If you want to find out which procedures are right for you, please contact puredentistry.com.au