Your teeth grind, bite, chew, and tear food consistently throughout your day. Usually, your teeth can withstand pressure from these actions without issue. But an awkward bite or injury can cause a tooth to crack, chip, or fracture.
Sometimes, this tooth breakage is a cosmetic issue and can be treated with dental bonding or another smile enhancement solution. But your tooth might also sustain a fracture, which will need more extensive treatment from your dentist.
A broken tooth can leave a patient in severe pain. It creates a weak spot in the tooth where bacteria can infiltrate and cause decay, infections, or other dental concerns. Do not ignore a dental fracture. Make sure you reach out to your dentist for an emergency evaluation.
The type of treatment you need to fix a broken tooth may vary depending on the location of the breakage and the severity of the injury. Discover two ways your dentist can treat a fractured tooth when you read on.
Restore a Broken Tooth with a Dental Crown
Dentists will often use a dental crown to fix a broken tooth. A crown is a ceramic cap made on a custom basis for patients, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit that also looks natural and does not impact the patient’s bite.
The crown covers the entire surface of the tooth and seals into place with dental cement. The durable material and secure hold from the cement ensure the crown remains in place while you resume your usual oral functions. It can stay on the tooth for fifteen years with appropriate care and maintenance.
The crown will cover the broken part of the tooth and shield it from further harm. This will prevent the injury from worsening while also restoring the tooth’s health and capabilities.
However, dental crown treatment only suits tooth fractures that occur on the cusp of the tooth, the part visible to the naked eye above the gumline. Deeper and more extensive dental damage may need alternative treatments.
Treatment for Severe Tooth Fractures
A crack in a tooth can deepen and widen without prompt treatment from a dentist. If the dental fracture extends to the root of the tooth below the gumline, then a dentist cannot access the injury to fix it. And a crown will not be able to cover and protect it.
In this case, a dentist may need to extract the broken tooth. If only a small part of the tooth is affected by the injury, the dentist might only need to remove a portion of the tooth. However, if your dentist does pull the tooth, you will need to undergo an extraction procedure.
Missing teeth can introduce further complications to your oral health. So consult with your dentist about a treatment plan to replace extracted teeth as well. Your dentist will evaluate your dental structure to determine the treatment you require for your broken tooth using x-ray imaging taken during a consultation.