The teeth are designed to bite and chew, which exerts a significant amount of pressure. However, the strong enamel enables the teeth to endure this pressure without issue. But sometimes accidents happen, like impact trauma or an awkward bite, which can chip, crack, or fracture your durable tooth.
A crack or chip in a tooth might be small, which can make it possible to amend the tooth using bonding or other cosmetic dental treatments. But often, you need urgent restorative dental solutions to treat a broken tooth.
Do not ignore a crack in a tooth because the damage can deepen and worsen, making the tooth vulnerable to infection, decay, and other problems. The treatment required to repair and restore your tooth may vary depending on the extent of the damage and the location of the injury.
You can feel more inclined to seek emergency dental treatment when you know more about the dental work you may need. Read on to see the treatment options your dentist might recommend to fix a broken tooth.
Dental Crown Treatment
A dentist will often recommend using a dental crown to treat a fractured tooth. This fixture features a ceramic cap individually made for the patient using dental impressions. The crown fits over the surface of a tooth, covering it entirely and then sealing into place with dental cement.
The durable ceramic and secure hold from the cement ensure the crown remains in place over the tooth. Then you can complete your usual chewing and biting with this crown. It can last for fifteen years or longer.
The crown creates a shield over the crack in the tooth, preventing the injury from worsening and ensuring bacteria and other external threats do not harm the tooth further. This proves effective in treating fractures in the cusp of the tooth, the top part visible above the gumline. But deeper tooth breakage might require alternative dental solutions.
Severe Dental Fracture Solutions
If you suffer a dental fracture that extends to the root of the tooth below the gum tissue, a crown will not fix the problem. The cap cannot reach this part of the tooth, and the dentist cannot access the injury either. Though not visible, the fracture will still be dangerous to your oral health.
To fix this type of dental fracture, the dentist may need to extract the tooth. In some cases, the dentist might only remove the damaged portion of the tooth. But they may require the removal of the entire tooth through an extraction procedure.
If this happens, you can anticipate some downtime as you recover from oral surgery. Missing teeth can create other problems with your dental health. So you should discuss tooth replacement with your dentist once you heal from the extraction.
The dentist can find the right treatment to address your tooth breakage when you attend an emergency dental appointment. They can use x-ray imaging to evaluate the severity of the damage and offer an optimal restorative solution.