Home News & Blog Treatment to Repair a Damaged Tooth — Getting Emergency Dental Care

Treatment to Repair a Damaged Tooth — Getting Emergency Dental Care

10th September 2022

Tooth damage is a common dental problem. It can be caused by decay, weakened tooth structure, trauma, and illness. Fortunately, there are several treatments to repair a damaged tooth.

Treatment options vary depending on the extent of the damage and may include dental bonding, fillings, crowns, and veneers. Unfortunately, in severe cases, a tooth may need to be extracted. 1 in 25 Australians over the age of 15 has no natural teeth remaining, so seeking early treatment for tooth damage can help ensure that your teeth remain healthy and functional.

Learn more about when you need to see an emergency dentist and what treatment options are available to restore your smile.

When is a Damaged Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Dental damage can range from a small chip on the surface of a tooth to a complete break below the gum line. In some cases, dental damage is only a cosmetic issue that can be fixed with a simple procedure like bonding.

damaged teeth treatments sydney However, in other cases, dental damage can be much more severe and may even constitute a dental emergency.

Signs that you may have a dental emergency include intense pain, swelling of the face or neck, and an inability to chew. If you have a break that has exposed the pulp of your tooth or extends below the gum line, you may also be at risk for an infection. These conditions require immediate treatment from an emergency dentist.

Seeking early treatment to repair a damaged tooth can prevent more severe oral health complications, including an abscess or tooth loss.

Treatment to Repair a Damaged Tooth

There are several common treatments to repair a damaged tooth, depending on the severity of the damage. At No Gaps Dental, our emergency dentist can provide several treatments, including:

Dental Fillings or Bonding

Dental fillings are used to treat cavities or tooth decay. The filling material is usually a tooth-coloured resin and glass ionomer. Once the decay has been removed, the filling is placed in the tooth and then shaped and polished to restore its shape and function.

Bonding is a cosmetic procedure used for minor chips that are not considered a dental emergency. It involves applying layers of composite resin to your tooth and hardening each layer with a curing light. It is often used to improve your smile’s appearance or replace a chipped tooth. Dental bonding is not as strong as other restorations and may need to be replaced every 3 to 10 years.

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are a type of dental restoration used to improve the appearance and function of damaged teeth. A crown is placed over the damaged tooth and covers it completely, providing strength and support.

Crowns can be made from various materials, including porcelain, metal, or composite resin. In addition, crowns can be custom-made to match the colour of your natural teeth.

At No Gaps Dental, we use CEREC technology to create same-day dental crowns using CAD/CAM technology and an on-site milling machine. CEREC crowns are natural-looking and long-lasting, often lasting between 5 and 15 years. A dental crown may be the right solution if you have a damaged tooth that exposes the pulp or is broken down to (but not below) the gum line.

Root Canal

Root canals are a treatment used to save a damaged tooth due to severe decay and pulp infection. In most cases, a severely damaged tooth is considered a dental emergency and requires immediate treatment from an emergency dentist.

The procedure involves opening the tooth’s crown and removing the damaged tissue from the inside of the pulp chamber. The tooth is then disinfected and sealed. Your dentist may recommend a dental crown to cap the tooth, depending on how much tooth structure remains after the root canal procedure.

Root canal therapy is often successful in saving damaged teeth and can help prevent further damage to the tooth and surrounding tissues. In most cases, root canal therapy can be performed in one or two visits to the dentist.

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is the removal of a damaged tooth. It is typically used as a last resort if the tooth is severely decayed, infected, or broken below the gum line and cannot be saved using other types of restorative treatment.

During the tooth extraction, your dentist applies a local anaesthetic to the area and uses a dental elevator to loosen the tooth from its socket. Then, they use forceps to remove the tooth. If the tooth is impacted or firmly secured in the bone, the dentist will need to remove the tooth surgically.

teeth damage repairs sydney Several types of restorations can be used to replace an extracted tooth, including dental implants, bridges, and dentures. Dental implants are the most popular option, providing a natural look and feel.

A bridge is a dental restoration used to replace missing teeth. It is made of metal, ceramic, or plastic and is fused to the natural teeth on either side of the space left by the missing tooth.

Dentures are removable dental appliances that replace one or more missing teeth. It is made of acrylic plastic or metal and fits over your remaining natural teeth and gums.

Get Emergency Dental Care at No Gaps Dental

If you have a damaged tooth that constitutes a dental emergency, we can provide urgent dental care at No Gaps Dental. Our experienced emergency dentists can provide high-quality treatment to repair a damaged tooth, restoring the functionality and appearance of your smile.

We will also work with you to ensure you are comfortable and receiving the care you need; we offer local anaesthetic and inhalation sedation (nitrous oxide) to minimise discomfort. Contact us at one of our 15 Sydney locations if you need dental emergency care.

Call us on (02) 8007 6727 today.

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.