Although your teeth are extremely strong, they can break, fracture, and crack due to teeth grinding, multiple restorations to the tooth, decay, or a facial injury. A broken tooth is a typical dental emergency we see at Maroondah Dental Care, but not all broken teeth are dental emergencies. Some breaks are minor, with no discomfort.
If you have a broken tooth, don’t postpone treatment, even if you don’t think it is a dental emergency. For severely damaged teeth, it is critical that you visit an emergency dentist for broken tooth treatment to protect your oral health and save your smile.
Broken Tooth Treatment: Dental Crowns
If the break is significant, you may need to visit an emergency dentist to prevent further damage or infection. Your dentist may prescribe a dental crown to restore your damaged tooth. A dental crown is a tooth-coloured cap that covers the tooth’s entire visible surface, providing strength and protection.
Your dentist files and shapes the damaged tooth to accommodate the dental crown. They’ll take dental impressions using alginate putty and a mouth tray. They send the impression to an off-site lab where a technician fabricates your customised dental crown to match your existing teeth. You will be fitted with a temporary dental crown to protect the remaining tooth structure.
Your temporary crown is removed at your next appointment, and the customised crown is cemented in place, restoring the tooth’s appearance and function.
Broken Tooth Treatment: Root Canal Therapy
If the tooth is broken below the gum line, you may experience sharp pain because the sensitive dental pulp is exposed. Teeth broken beneath the gum line are considered dental emergencies and require root canal therapy to save the tooth from extraction.
Your dentist begins by administering anaesthesia before making a small hole in the crown to access the infected tissue. Your Maroondah Dental Care professional uses rotary endodontic files to remove the dental pulp before disinfecting and sealing the tooth. These electric files ensure a quicker, more efficient, noise-free dental experience.
You will be given a temporary filling and asked to revisit your dentist to receive a permanent filling or be fitted for a dental crown.
Broken Tooth Treatment: Dental Filling
A minor break that does not cause discomfort is not typically considered a dental emergency. However, the tooth must be restored as soon as possible to avoid complications like tooth decay and increased sensitivity. If you have a minor break, your dentist may recommend dental bonding or fillings.
After shaping the tooth to remove any rough edges, your dentist builds up the tooth by applying layers of composite resin colour-match to your tooth shade.
Each layer of resin is hardened using a special light. They then shape the tooth to ensure it blends seamlessly with your smile.
Visit Maroondah Dental Care for Your Dental Emergency
If you have broken or cracked your tooth due to trauma or decay and experience severe discomfort, contact Maroondah Dental Care immediately to see an emergency dentist. We offer several broken tooth treatments for dental emergencies to help alleviate pain and restore the look and function of your smile. Contact us at 03 9007 2532 to book your dental emergency appointment today.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Repairing a Chipped or Broken Tooth
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/repairing-a-chipped-or-broken-tooth
Root canal treatment
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/root-canal-treatment
Dental crown procedure
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-crown-procedure