If you ignore a broken tooth, lingering pain in your jaw could become the least of your concerns. It can take several forms and cause a variety of symptoms. Don’t ignore something that doesn’t feel right. Make an appointment with Rivers Edge Dental right away.
Breaking or chipping a tooth can be frightening. Accidents with teeth can happen to anyone, regardless of their oral health. If you find yourself in a position where your mouth has been traumatized, such as a chipped or broken tooth, here’s what you should do to relieve discomfort and prevent irreversible harm.
Why do I Have a Broken Tooth?
You might be asking yourself, “why did my tooth break?” Even though your teeth’s enamel is the strongest tissue in your body, it can be destroyed or cracked. You can harm teeth in a variety of ways. Perhaps you were doing something you shouldn’t have been doing, such as playing football without a mouth guard. Maybe you were injured in a severe fall, crash, or blow. Whatever the exact reason, your teeth can break for various reasons.
According to the American Dental Association, hard candies, ice, citrus, coffee, dried fruit, potato chips, soda, alcohol, and sports drinks are among the top nine foods that cause tooth decay. Cavities and tooth decay can weaken your teeth, making them more susceptible to shatter while biting hard foods. That is why it is crucial to maintain good oral health, including brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. Be sure to floss and use mouthwash once a day as well, and remember, see our expert dentists at Rivers Edge Dental in Coolidge, Arizona.
What do you do if you Have a Broken Tooth?
Our teeth are tough, but they can crack, break, or detach if subjected to enough pressure or wear. Some cracks and breaks are minor and do not require dental treatment, but don’t make this decision on your own.
No matter how little a fracture or break appears to be, the first thing you should do is schedule an appointment right away. Next, follow these steps to ensure you have everything you need before getting to our dental office.
Rinse your mouth with water right away. If your mouth is bleeding, stop the bleeding by exerting pressure. Attempt to keep the tooth in milk, saline solution, or water if it comes out entirely. Make sure you find all the pieces. To relieve pain and swelling, apply a cold compress. Finally, to reduce pain and inflammation, take over-the-counter pain medication. Then see us.
How Can I Fix My Tooth?
Depending on the severity of the damage, a dentist can treat a fractured or chipped tooth in various methods. Dr. Gerhardt, Dr. Jackson, or Dr. Dubinetsky may examine the following options:
Dental Filling – A dental filling is typically enough to heal the damage if only a tiny bit of your tooth has broken off. A composite resin fills the hole, which hardens and protects the tooth.
Root Canal – When a tooth is fractured, the dental pulp can get infected. Your dentist will conduct a root canal to remove the infection before placing a dental crown on the tooth if this occurs.
Dental Crown – When a significant portion of a tooth breaks off, there isn’t enough tooth structure left to fill with a dental filling. A dental crown will be applied to cap the tooth in these circumstances to protect the sensitive nerves underneath.
Dental Veneer – A porcelain veneer is a beautiful alternative for restoring your smile if the fractured tooth is in the front of the mouth or another highly prominent location.
Dental Implants – Dental implants are increasingly becoming the preferred method of replacing a missing tooth since they look, feel, and function similarly to natural teeth. A dental implant is an effective treatment option if your tooth has fallen out or needs to be pulled. Consult your dentist about the dangers and benefits of dental implants and whether your insurance will pay the cost of the procedure.
Dental Bridge – A dental bridge is another alternative for people who need a tooth pulled due to injury. It entails anchoring a false tooth or teeth to two abutment teeth to fill in the gap left by the missing tooth or teeth.
In an Emergency, What Should You Do?
It can be harmful to ignore a damaged tooth. Why? As a result, you can avoid further harm and infection. You might even be able to salvage your tooth. Even if the crack is slight, it might expose the tooth to cavities and infection of the surrounding nerves, necessitating a root canal. However, you must contact us as soon as possible, as we are the leading emergency dentists in Coolidge, Arizona. Come to Rivers Edge Dental if you have a damaged or fractured tooth.
