In general, there are three types of broken teeth. The first is a fractured tooth, which is typically treatable with the right care. Then there’s a cracked tooth, which may or may not be fixable depending on the extent of the damage. And finally, there is a split tooth, which is rarely treatable. When a tooth cannot be saved, we’ll extract it to protect your oral health. But in many situations, we can repair a broken tooth with fast and effective dentistry! If you have a damaged tooth, contact East Longmeadow Family Dental Center for an emergency appointment! There, we will determine the next best steps for you.
Potential Causes for a Broken Tooth
Typically, a broken tooth isn’t something you can prepare for. Unlike tooth decay or gum disease, broken teeth occur suddenly rather than in stages. One minute you’re smiling, and the next you may be bleeding from your mouth.
There are quite a few potential causes of broken teeth, as dental trauma happens in a variety of ways. Common situations that could result in a broken tooth include:
Playing sports: Some sports, like hockey or football, require using a mouthguard to protect your teeth. But that doesn’t stop a rogue ball or puck from hitting your mouth, potentially breaking teeth.- Riding a bike or in a car: In a bike or car accident, your teeth are vulnerable to trauma. If you break a tooth after an accident, a dentist may be able to repair it.
- Grinding your teeth: When you grind your teeth, you wear down enamel and weaken your tooth’s structure. Eventually, this can cause fractures or breaks.
- Using your teeth as tools: At East Longmeadow Family Dental Center, we never recommend using your teeth to open things. One wrong move and your tooth can break or chip permanently.
- Biting into hard foods: Biting ice, hard candies, and popcorn kernels can crack your teeth. This is especially true for older patients or those with weaker enamel.
In some cases, broken teeth are painless. In other situations, they’re incredibly painful and put your oral health at risk. Either way, we encourage you to visit our office as soon as possible!
Broken Tooth Repair at East Longmeadow Family Dental Center
At East Longmeadow Family Dental Center, we offer emergency dentistry. Often, we can get you into our office the same day you call for emergency treatment and pain relief. But if we can’t fit you in that day, we will make an appointment for the next day.
When you visit us, we’ll likely use any one of these solutions, depending on the extent of the damage to your broken tooth:
- Dental bonding: For minor chips or fractures, we may use dental bonding to repair your tooth. We simply apply the resin material to your enamel, shape it to look natural, and harden it with a curing light.
Dental veneers: While often used for cosmetic purposes, veneers also repair and cover cracks, protecting your tooth and improving its appearance. However, your smile must be healthy to be eligible for veneer treatment.- Dental crowns: A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers an entire tooth. After removing some of your enamel, we place a crown on a broken tooth to strengthen its structure and protect it from bacteria.
- Root canals: When a tooth is broken, the inner portion becomes vulnerable to infection. A root canal helps remove infected tissues inside your tooth to stop pain and keep your tooth healthy. Afterward, we’ll place a dental crown on top to strengthen your tooth.
- Tooth extractions: If the extent of damage to your tooth is too large, we’ll need to extract it. We perform these procedures routinely to keep your smile healthy. Additionally, we offer several options for replacing missing teeth, including dental implants.
Repair Broken Teeth in East Longmeadow, MA
After breaking a tooth, reach out to East Longmeadow Family Dental Center. We will help you find a solution that fits your specific situation, and provide any pain relief you need through an emergency appointment. Depending on the extent of the damage to your tooth, we may be able to repair it! Using dental crowns, bonding, or veneers, we protect your tooth from further damage and restore its appearance. If your tooth is too damaged to be saved, we’ll extract it and replace it with dental implant treatment.
Book a free consultation or call to set up an emergency appointment today at our office in East Longmeadow, MA!
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