Having a cracked or chipped tooth can make you panic. In fact, you might be in pain when this happens as a result of an accident or fall. No matter why your tooth cracks or breaks, you have options in terms of tooth replacement and repair. Although the right treatment depends greatly on your situation, you actually have more options than a tooth replacement. Keep reading to learn more about your treatment options the Top 10 Dentists in Sarnia Ontario can offer if you have a cracked or chipped tooth:
Treating a Chipped Tooth
The most suitable treatment for a chipped tooth will depend on how much of your tooth has been chipped off. If only a small piece of your tooth enamel has been chipped off, your dentist may repair it with a filling. When the damage occurs in your front tooth or in a tooth that is visible when you smile, your dentist may use a tooth-coloured composite resin through a procedure called bonding.
Repairing bigger chips is more involved. A big chip that hasn’t damaged or exposed the pulp of the affected tooth may need a crown or veneer. You may need to make two dental visits to get this treatment because your dentist must shape the remaining tooth structure to get either a crown or veneer and fabricate the permanent restoration in a dental laboratory. On your first visit, your dentist may send you home with a temporary restoration and will contact you when the permanent one is ready.
Moreover, if the big chip has exposed or damaged the tooth pulp, you may need immediate care. This almost certainly requires a crown, together with a root canal treatment. In this procedure, your dentist will remove exposed or infected pulp tissue from within your tooth. Then, they will seal the central inner space and the canals which brand from it down through the roots. A root canal treatment is performed under local anesthesia.
Repairing a Cracked Tooth
A tooth crack can start from the chewing surface or a tooth’s root. Depending on the size of the crack, it can cause intermittent discomfort or severe pain. However, because even a small crack can open a pathway to infection, you must see your dentist immediately even if you are not in pain. Your dentist will X-ray your tooth to identify the extent of the damage and the right course of action.
If the crack occurs above the gum line and doesn’t expose the pulp of the tooth, it can easily be treated. Depending on the crack’s size, your dentist may restore your teeth with a tooth-coloured filling material, a crown, or a veneer. In case the crack exposes the tooth pulp, a root canal treatment and a crown might be necessary.
When the crack extends beneath the gum line and into the roots, the tooth cannot be saved. In this case, you may need a tooth extraction and replacement. Depending on your dentist, you may get a dental implant on the same day your cracked tooth is removed.
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