A broken tooth is a common dental issue that fills most people with dread, especially when the crack is near the front of the mouth. Front teeth fractures are quite common among children, teenagers, and young adults. Fortunately, a dentist can recommend various repair or replacement options for damaged front teeth to help patients resume smiling.
Teeth are naturally durable, but various circumstances can cause them to weaken to the point of cracking, chipping, or breaking, including:
Front teeth are particularly vulnerable and can sustain damage that impacts the overall oral integrity. Sometimes, a fractured tooth is not so obvious, especially if the tooth is not visible when smiling. The most common signs of a broken tooth or teeth are pain, swelling, bleeding, and discoloration. However, the most obvious sign in the front teeth is a gap between the patient's gum and the tooth's edge. The patient may also notice loose teeth or bone fragments in their mouth that should not be there.
After breaking a front tooth, patients who visit a dental provider promptly can minimize complications, including infection. However, seeking treatment should still be the top priority for those who are not experiencing any immediate discomfort or pain-related symptoms. In addition, a dentist can determine one of the following restoration options depending on the extent of the damage.
A broken tooth can lead to infection by exposing the underlying pulp to oral bacteria. When that happens, a dentist must begin the restoration process with root canal therapy. The treatment involves removing the infected nerves and tissue from the channels within the root through a later sealed opening to prevent new infections. Once we restore the tooth's health, its appearance can be fixed.
A dentist may use a cap or crown on a broken tooth that requires root canal treatment or is missing a significant portion of its natural crown above the gumline. Crowning involves grinding and smoothing what remains of the visible natural incisor to ensure that the prosthetic cap fits appropriately. The replacement cover typically consists of porcelain, which has a natural appearance that a dentist can color match to surrounding teeth.
Bonding repairs minor chips and damage to front teeth. First, the tooth is sanded to achieve the rough surface necessary to hold an adhesive that attaches to the resin bonding material. Then, the dentist molds the resin into the desired shape and secures it in place with an ultraviolet light.
Dental veneers fit over chipped or cracked front teeth to mask imperfections. Veneer placement starts with grinding down the tooth to ensure the thin shell overlay does not protrude further than the surrounding teeth. Next, a lab technician prepares the shell to achieve precise color and proportions. In the final step, the dentist permanently adheres the veneer to the tooth with a bonding agent.
Sometimes a tooth can crack below the gum line, resulting in a severe infection. A dentist must pull it and install a titanium implant that replaces the natural root. A porcelain crown attaches to an abutment on the implant that extends through the gum. Implants are the most invasive and time-consuming option for restoring a broken tooth, requiring multiple treatment stages.
Regardless of the cause of a broken front tooth, the dentist must address this problem immediately to prevent further underlying damage. In addition, early intervention allows us to preserve as much of the patient's natural tooth structure as possible while avoiding decay in the future.
The dentist will decide which restorative option will be more effective for the patient after considering the cause of the break, the severity of the break, the patient's age, and the overall condition of their oral health.
In the end, you should know that there are many restoration options for you and any member of your family. A broken tooth near the front of the mouth can impact someone's appearance, oral health, dental function, and self-esteem. Our dentist can craft a plan to fix a newfound gap and restore your healthy smile. Unfortunately, there are no at-home quick fixes for a broken tooth, and the only way to prevent further and costly damage is by scheduling an appointment today.
Request an appointment here: https://www.allsmilesdentalcenter.com or call All Smiles Dental Center at (210) 714-7429 for an appointment in our San Antonio office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Broken Tooth in San Antonio, TX.
Treating a chipped tooth is important, even if the damage is small. A general dentist can treat this type of dental issue. The solution to the chipping will depend on the degree of damage. Here are the details on how a dentist can repair a chipped tooth.The dentist can offer this minimally invasive and inexpensive…
If you've suffered a broken or damaged tooth, you may want to consider a dental crown to restore your damaged smile. It's important, however, to know when your crown is getting worn and when it is time to get it replaced so that you can keep your smile looking its best. Proper maintenance and care…
Many times, dental crowns are used to repair weakened or damaged teeth, especially those impacted by severe decay. However, this type of treatment also has a place in cosmetic dentistry. It can often be used to improve the overall look of a patient's smile.While at first glance they can seem like little more than a…
A cosmetic dentist can use a dental dental crowns to improve your dental health. A tooth with severe decay or discoloration can be depressing. The infection could reach the pulp at any time. Placing a custom-fit dental crown can protect your tooth from further damage and injury. If you want to know more about the…
Stepping into a cosmetic dentist’s clinic gives you the chance to look at how your smile can improve. The first visit will be an educational one. It also gives your dentist a chance to know you better. Here are the things that you should expect during your first visit to your cosmetic dentist.The cosmetic dentist…
During a smile makeover, a cosmetic dentist typically performs two or more procedures as part of an overall plan to improve a smile's appearance. Therefore, the definition of a smile makeover can be very broad and customizable. Smile makeovers can even be as simple as one procedure, such as dental veneers. A smile makeover plan…