Your tooth is the hardest mineral in your body, but there still are limits to its strength. Biting on something hard, falling, or a blow to the face can result in cracked or broken teeth. So what should you do about cracked teeth? Don’t worry, there are ways to fix this.
What Should Be Your First Step?
Without a doubt, your very first step after discovering a cracked tooth is to consult your dentist. And it is best if you do it as soon as possible because your tooth can become damaged even more or you might even lose the tooth if you don’t get it checked.
You can also take some immediate measures before you get to meet your dentist.
1. If your chipped tooth is hurting you, then you can take an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen. You can also try rinsing your mouth with salt water.
2. If your chipped tooth has a sharp or jagged edge, you can cover it with some sugar-free chewing gum. This can prevent it from cutting your tongue or the side of your mouth.
3. Only eat soft food and avoid hard, crunchy food. Also, avoid chewing on the side of the cracked tooth.
If your tooth cracks, it is important to visit the dentist immediately! At Ensure Dental, we provide emergency dental appointments, so be sure to call us immediately!
Treating A Chipped Tooth
Treatment of your tooth depends on the extent of the damage.
Dental Filling
If you have cracked just a part of your tooth, then the dentist will use a bonding or dental filling to fix it. Your tooth will be roughened first, a bonding will be attached to it and then coated with a tooth-colored resin.
Dental Cap
If a large part of your tooth has cracked, then the dentist might file away some of the remaining tooth and fit in a crown or a tooth-shaped cap. In some cases, this is also followed by a root canal, depending on the condition of your tooth. Getting this treatment can take 2-3 visits to the dentist.
Dental Veneer
If the crack is in one of your frontal teeth, then we may suggest a dental veneer. This is a tooth-colored porcelain that covers the front of your tooth. It has a thicker section to cover the part where the tooth was chipped.
Root Canal
If your tooth is cracked enough to expose the pulp, then the bacteria in your mouth can infect the root. You will need a root canal in this case. In this, the infected root pulp is removed, the canal cleaned and filled to seal it. A cap is then fitted on top of your tooth.
Chipping or cracking your tooth can be very painful if you don’t take proper care. So, it is best that you visit your dentist as soon as possible.