We all know that no matter how much we try to avoid accidents, they sometimes happen and cracking or chipping teeth due to an accident can be excruciatingly painful. Damage to teeth can range from minor to severe, depending on the nature of the injury and the state of your teeth.
When should you seek professional help for a chipped tooth?
A chipped tooth is not an emergency situation unless it hurts or shows the pulp or bone underneath. If the damage is more than just a small chip, you will need to visit a dentist for a permanent solution. The uneven appearance, though, suggests that you should probably have it repaired right away. While you wait for the pain to subside, it’s important to take precautions to safeguard your teeth and gums from further harm.
What can a dentist do to fix a broken tooth?
A variety of treatments are accessible. The severity of your injuries and other factors will determine which one your dentist recommends.
Filling and Bonding
When the damage is limited to a little chipped piece of enamel, the dentist can use a filling to fix it. If it’s an anterior tooth, the dentist can repair it using the same composite resin material that makes tooth-colored fillings. Following the application of adhesive material and gel to roughen the tooth’s surface, the resin is painted directly onto the tooth. After it’s been shaped to perfection, it’s hardened using UV light.
No numbing is necessary for this procedure, and you can leave the office as soon as it’s finished. Having said that, it’s not a good choice for major damage.
Veneer
Having a veneer placed over a little chip in a front tooth might be the best option for treatment. If the veneer could conceal the chip instead of fixing it, nobody would notice.
Onlay
The onlay covering is a section of the tooth’s surface, much like a filling. The fact that it covers just a portion of the tooth sets it apart from crowns. But unlike fillings, it must be made in a lab before the dentist can cement it into place; this is comparable to crowns. Like when you obtain a crown, your dentist may need to take an impression of your teeth to send to the lab. But unlike dental crowns, it doesn’t necessitate substantial preparation.
Crown
Crowns can restore damaged teeth when a significant amount of enamel has crumbled or when decay is too extensive for a filling. Prosthetic crowns can be crafted from metal, resin, or porcelain, all of which are sturdy and long-lasting materials. In order to fit over the remaining piece after some treatment to make it equally shaped, it has a tooth-shaped shape and is hollow in the middle.
Dental impressions are taken by the dentist to ensure a proper fit of the crown. Digital methods exist in addition to the more conventional ones, such as biting down on a putty-like substance and sending it to the lab after it hardens. Even though same-day crowns are not common, the typical turnaround time for lab-made crowns is a couple of weeks.
Reattaching Missing Teeth
If you can save the damaged tooth fragment and visit the dentist promptly, there’s a chance that they can cement it back into place to fix the tooth. But this is a possibility only if the tooth fragment’s cells are viable. Holding the piece between your cheek and gums can keep it wet, and putting it in a glass of milk will give it calcium, so you can protect it momentarily. You must visit the dentist immediately because these treatments will not prolong the fragment’s life.
Root Canal Procedure
When a significant chip exposes the tooth pulp to air, a root canal operation may be necessary. This opens the door for germs to penetrate the nervous system and blood vessels, leading to an infection. Extracting diseased pulp, cleaning out the tooth’s root, and finally sealing the tooth are all steps in the process.
After a root canal, a tooth isn’t as strong as it once was. You might have to get a crown as a second surgery to make it stronger.
Also Read: Invisalign: The Clear Alternative to Braces
Conclusion
You can usually get a chipped tooth fixed all you need to do is visit a dentist. Please visit the “Dental Expert” in Malad West in case you find yourself in trouble with a chipped or lost tooth due to an accident.