If you already have a broken tooth, we’ll fix it properly, professionally, and with as much comfort as possible. A fractured tooth is a common and painful event. You shouldn’t be too concerned about a broken tooth as long as you obtain the proper treatment as soon as possible.
What Happens if a Break Goes Untreated
You should never ignore a chipped, fractured, or broken tooth. A crack can turn into a larger crack, which can turn into a break. A break can turn into a missing tooth, a lot of pain, and so on. Bacteria and other harmful substances can enter your teeth and gums through a cracked or broken tooth, causing a painful abscess, infection, and tooth decay. A shattered tooth can weaken tooth structure. The tooth may shatter significantly more over time.
Excellent Dental Care in Greeley, Loveland, and Windsor Area
As soon as you know you need treatment, act fast to make an appointment. Waiting too long can mean a small problem blossoming into a larger one. You may not know the extent of the damage until we can examine and evaluate it. It’s possible that you merely have a chipped tooth, which isn’t as serious as a broken tooth. It’s better to be safe than sorry. This is why we recommend regular checkups, typically about twice a year.
What Are Some Good Ways to Prevent a Broken Tooth?
Teeth are strong and meant to last a lifetime, but breaks occur. With proper care, you can avoid a broken tooth:
- Carefully Chew Your Food. Many foods are tougher on your teeth than you might expect. You may have a broken tooth when you least expect it. For example, a damaged tooth is frequently caused by chewing popcorn. Although soft, the popcorn may have unpopped kernels. A fractured tooth is often caused by biting into one too hard.
- Maintain Good Dental Hygiene. Your teeth may be less resilient than healthy teeth if they are stressed by disease or inappropriate treatment. Tooth decay, infection, and worn enamel can weaken a tooth, making it more likely to break. Keep your teeth in good shape. Brush and floss frequently, and schedule regular checkups to ensure your teeth are in the best possible condition.
- Be Careful With Teeth That Have Had a Lot of Work. Teeth that have had work done to them, such as fillings, may be weaker than they were in their natural state. A tooth with a filling may become less resilient over time, and you may experience a broken tooth as a result. Consider a crown or veneer over the tooth.
- Keep Your Teeth Protected. If you participate in sports, you should consider wearing an athletic mouthguard to protect your teeth. If you clench your teeth or grind them at night, we have some excellent solutions at Luker Dental. For example, a protective mouth guard to wear while sleeping.
- Use Your Teeth Only for Chewing Food. When chewing food, use your teeth, and when cutting tape, use scissors. You might be surprised to learn how many patients have damaged teeth from biting into tape to cut it or trying to open packaging with their teeth.
What to Do If You Have a Broken Tooth
A fractured tooth may need extraction. We may be able to save the original tooth in some circumstances. It depends on the situation. If you have a fractured tooth, you can use an ice pack or a cold compress to relieve the pain until you get professional treatment. Find and save any fractured tooth fragments. Rinse your mouth with warm water. If you’re bleeding, place a piece of sterile gauze over the cut until it stops bleeding.
We can treat a broken tooth in a variety of methods, including:
- Repair using composite resin and similar solutions
- Bridges to replace and cover missing and damaged teeth
- Implants to provide a synthetic root for a tooth crown
- Crowns to shelter damaged teeth
- Root canal to restore and strengthen an infected tooth
Let Us Fix Your Broken Tooth at Luker Dental
A broken tooth may affect your ability to smile. We don’t want that. Let us repair or replace your damaged tooth with top-notch, quality dental care. At Luker Dental, we strive to keep our patients happy. We accomplish this by providing courteous, professional, and high-quality dental care.
