Trauma to the mouth, grinding your teeth, and biting on hard objects can severely damage your teeth. Common symptoms of a broken tooth include pain, sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, and visible cracks or chips in the tooth.
If you have a fractured or chipped tooth, you may wonder, can broken teeth be fixed? The short answer is yes, but it depends on the type and severity of the break.
In many cases, your dentist can repair a broken tooth successfully using treatments, such as fillings or crowns. However, if your tooth is broken due to deep decay, you may need a root canal to save the tooth.
Can Broken Teeth Be Fixed: Is a Broken Tooth a Dental Emergency?
A broken tooth can be a serious dental emergency. If the break is severe, it can expose the tooth pulp, leading to infection, nerve damage, and bone loss. A break below the gum line can also damage the tooth root, making it more susceptible to decay.
Contact an emergency dentist immediately if you experience intense pain or swelling, or if your tooth is broken below the gum line.
While you wait for an appointment with your dentist, here are a few first aid techniques you can use to help reduce pain and swelling:
- Save any broken tooth pieces in a sterile container of milk.
- Rinse your mouth with a saltwater solution to prevent bacterial infection.
- Apply an ice pack intermittently to the side of your face for 15 minutes to reduce swelling.
Can Broken Teeth Be Fixed: Treatments for a Broken Tooth
When you break a tooth, it is essential to see an emergency dentist as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more likely the damage will worsen. At No Gaps Dental, we will assess the damage and determine the best course of treatment.
In most cases, a broken tooth can be fixed. For a minor to moderate chip, the dentist will use composite resin bonding material and dental cement to restore the tooth to its original shape. If the break is more severe, you may need a dental crown to restore the broken tooth’s structural integrity and function.
If a severely decayed tooth is broken below the gum line or split vertically, it may need to be extracted.
Some common treatments for broken teeth include:
Dental Bonding or Filling
Dental bonding can be used to reattach broken tooth pieces or restore shape and structure to a broken tooth. The bonding material is matched to the colour of your natural teeth and then applied in thin layers to the broken tooth.
The composite is hardened between layers using ultraviolet light, then shaped and polished to blend with your smile.
Bonding and fillings usually take less than an hour to complete, and the results can last up to 7 years on average.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are ideal for cracked, chipped, or worn-down teeth. They can also support dental bridges or cover broken teeth that have undergone root canal therapy. Different dental crowns are available, including porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, gold alloy, and zirconia ceramic. Your dentist will help you choose the best option for your needs.
The treatment procedure for getting a traditional dental crown usually takes two visits to the dentist. During the first appointment, your dentist prepares the broken tooth by removing a small layer of enamel and shaping it into a cone.
The dentist then uses alginate or polyvinyl siloxane to take dental impressions. These impressions are used to create a model of your smile that will be sent to an off-site lab where your custom crown is fabricated. Your dentist will place a temporary crown over the tooth until the permanent one is ready.
Once it is ready, you will return for a second appointment so the dentist can check the crown’s fit and bond it in place.
At No Gaps Dental, we also offer CEREC crowns as a convenient and effective solution for patients with broken teeth. CEREC crowns are made from strong zirconia ceramic material and can be custom-designed to match the shape and colour of your natural teeth.
During the CEREC crown procedure, your dentist uses state-of-the-art digital scanning technology to take images of the prepared tooth. The images are sent to a software program that creates a 3D rendering of the crown. This data is transmitted to an on-site milling machine which builds the crown from a solid block of zirconia.
When the crown is ready, the dentist cements it in place. This allows you to restore your smile in a single session.
Root Canal Therapy
If your tooth breaks and exposes the pulp chamber, it is a dental emergency, and you may need a root canal to save your tooth from extraction. During root canal therapy, the emergency dentist will use a high-speed handpiece to open the tooth crown to access the pulp chamber. They then use endodontic files to remove decayed and infected tissue and disinfect the root canals.
The root canals are filled with gutta-percha, and you may also need a metal, composite, or plastic post inserted into the root canal for additional support. The crown is then filled with tooth-coloured composite and may be capped with a dental crown.
Tooth Extraction
If your tooth is split or broken below the gum line, your dentist may be unable to save it. Extracting a broken tooth is not always a straightforward procedure. The type of break and the tooth’s position will dictate the best course of action.
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Impact Break
An impact break that has caused the tooth to be displaced may require surgical extraction. This involves making an incision in the gum line and removing the bone around the tooth before extracting it.
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Loose Tooth
If the tooth is simply loose, a basic extraction may be all that is needed. This involves using forceps to remove the tooth from the socket. Once the tooth has been extracted, there are several restoration options available.
A dental implant can replace a single tooth, or a bridge can be used to support multiple missing teeth. In some cases, a partial denture may also be an option. The best restoration option will depend on factors like budget and oral health.
Contact No Gaps Dental if You Have a Dental Emergency
If you are still wondering can broken teeth be fixed, contact the dental team at No Gaps Dental. Dental emergencies can be painful and stressful, but we offer a range of dental services, from simple tooth extractions to complex root canals to restore your smile. Dental emergencies can happen anytime, so we offer extended hours and same-day appointments.
We accept most insurance plans and offer flexible payment plans through Smile Right. So if you’re in pain and need an emergency dentist, don’t wait – contact No Gaps Dental on (02) 8007 6727 today. We’ll help you get the treatment you need.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Dental Crowns: What are they? Painful? Safe? Expensive? + 11 More FAQs
https://askthedentist.com/dental-crown/
Root canal treatment
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/root-canal-treatment