Broken teeth affect more than just your smile. If left untreated, they can not only be harmful to oral health, but can also affect the overall health of the person who suffered the injury, whether big or small.
In this article, Clinique MFML’s maxillofacial surgeons discuss broken teeth with you. They explain when to consider having a tooth removed and how to replace a broken tooth.
How does a broken tooth happen?
A broken tooth is usually the result of a tooth fracture caused by physical trauma. A tooth can also break when it is decayed.
A tooth can even break when you chew food too hard or when you grind your teeth repeatedly. A tooth that has had root canal treatment, but doesn’t have a crown on it, is also more likely to break.
What to do when you break a tooth
When you break a tooth, you should see a maxillofacial surgeon or a general dentist as soon as possible. The sooner you consult someone, the greater the chances of saving the broken tooth, depending on the case, of course.
What should you do with a broken tooth while waiting for the appointment?
After the fracture, the area may be sensitive to chewing or temperature changes. Paying special attention to your diet may help with the symptoms.
How is a broken tooth diagnosed?
A broken tooth is diagnosed in a dental office using radiology (X-rays). With the use of dental radiology, you can see if the tooth root has been fractured. It also makes it possible to check if there is any damage to the pulpal area.
How do I replace or treat a broken tooth?
When the dental pulp is untouched, the hope is simply to reconstruct the tooth with an adhesive resin, a “white filling”.
However, other solutions need to be considered if the dental pulp is affected or if the root of the broken tooth is cracked or fractured. These are briefly described below.
Dental crown on implant
A crown is a solution that can be used to cover a broken tooth. It takes the form of a custom-made hollow artificial tooth, often made of composite or porcelain, that completely covers the broken tooth.
It is typically used when the fracture has reached the dental pulp and the tooth is dead. In this procedure, the tooth is devitalized and reconstructed with a resin. It is then capped and protected with a crown.
The fixed bridge and removable prosthesis
Fixed bridge and removable prosthesis are solutions that are used when the fracture has reached the root of the tooth and preservation of the tooth is not desirable or possible.
In this case, tooth extraction must be performed and the broken tooth must be replaced with a prosthetic solution.
The fixed bridge, which is permanently attached to healthy neighboring teeth, and the removable denture are dental restorations that replace one or more missing teeth. These restorations usually consist of one or more artificial teeth, depending on the case.
The dental implant and bridge on implants
A dental implant is another solution to replace a broken tooth when the tooth root is affected. Dental implants are usually considered when the tooth to be restored is so damaged that it must be completely extracted.
There are many benefits to dental implants including the look, the comfort, the durability and more. Dental implants last a long time, provided, of course, that you adopt good habits after the implant has been placed.
The implant bridge is not fixed to the neighboring teeth. Instead, its stability comes from dental implants that act as artificial tooth roots.
Clinique MFML can replace your broken teeth
There you have it. Now you know how to replace a missing tooth. We hope you enjoyed reading this article.
To learn more about the world of maxillofacial surgery, visit the blog section of our website. Alternatively, browse through our various oral and maxillofacial services to learn more about us.
