Cracked Teeth Treatment

If you experience any kind of trauma to your mouth, you may end up with a broken tooth. A chip or crack can also be accompanied by cuts, bleeding gums, loose teeth, and tooth pain. From a simple chip in the hard enamel of a tooth to a complete break across one or more teeth, untreated damage can lead to more serious dental conditions. Although you may not feel discomfort right away, bacteria find cracks in your tooth’s armor, leading to cavities, infections, or a hole in tooth. Find a Glendale, NY dentist who treats all the side effects you may experience after an accident. At Atlas Park Dental, the team provides the full range of dental care, including any cosmetic dentistry procedures you may want. Repairing a broken tooth ensures that any decay or bite concerns are addressed promptly and properly.

First Steps Needed after a Cracked Tooth

If you’ve exposed the dentin or pulp of a tooth, the damage often causes discoloration of the enamel, severe but intermittent pain, and sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, often leading to sensitive teeth. Follow the advice of the doctors at Atlas Park Dental after you’ve broken or cracked a tooth:

• Immediately make an appointment with your Glendale, NY dentist. The team at Atlas Park Dental is available for emergency care when you can’t wait.
• Place any chips or pieces of tooth that you still have in a clean container with saliva, saline, or milk to keep it moist and viable. Bring it to the dentist with you.
• Ask if you can take over-the-counter pain relievers if you’re experiencing discomfort. Your dentist may want you to wait so that you don’t exacerbate bleeding and can accurately describe your pain level, especially if there’s significant tooth nerve pain.
• Apply pressure with a clean gauze pad to slow and stop any bleeding.
• Press a cold pack against your face or jaw to control swelling and numb the pain.
• Cover any jagged or sharp edges with paraffin or sugarless chewing gum to prevent further injury to your cheek, tongue, and gums.
• Be careful of the foods you eat if you have to wait for your appointment. Choose only soft items that put no stress on your injured tooth.
• Call your Glendale, NY dentist if your situation worsens. With a family dentist nearby, you should be able to get in quickly for the emergency treatment you need.

What Kind of Broken Tooth Repair Can You Expect?

After thoroughly examining your cracked tooth and the surrounding tissue, the doctors at Atlas Park Dental, cosmetic and implant specialists in Glendale, NY, determine the best course of treatment for you. If other conditions have contributed to your broken tooth pain, they’ll address those as well. Options for treatment include:

• Minor chip repair. Small chips are usually repaired with dental bonding, a tooth-colored resin that mimics your natural tooth color. It’s applied without anesthesia. After etching the tooth and applying adhesive, the resin is molded in layers and hardened with an ultraviolet light wand. This is particularly useful for small teeth that may chip easily.
• Major chip repair. The more tooth material lost, the more extensive the repair. Your dentist may remove part of the remaining tooth and cover it with a crown made of zirconia, porcelain, or resin.
• Complete replacement. If the tooth is broken off, you’ll feel significant pain from the exposed root. Your dentist may need to perform a tooth extraction, followed by a dental implant topped with a crown.
• Crooked front teeth repair. Because front teeth are thinner, trauma can result in crooked alignment. Options include veneers or orthodontic treatment, such as clear Invisalign aligners.
• Vertical split repair. If a vertical split occurs in a front tooth, your dentist may determine the root is too compromised to save and recommend extraction and implants. If the split is in a molar, a root canal capped with a crown may save the tooth, especially if the pulpitis is a contributing factor to the pain.

Treatment depends on the extent of the damage and the level of root involvement. The team at Atlas Park Dental always strives to preserve your natural teeth and roots. But when that’s not possible, you’re in the best hands. With experienced staff, advanced equipment, and the latest techniques, they’ll take care of any broken teeth in your family. Contact Atlas Park Dental today!