You’re chewing on the ice cube from your drink when you hear a quiet crack inside your mouth. You chew on something hard and there is a sudden shooting sharp but quick pain. You spit out the hard object and it’s confirmed: a broken tooth.
Broken or chipped teeth are among the most common dental problems. It may be a result of bad habits such as chewing on the dull end of a pen, biting your nails, or grinding teeth. It may also come from bad oral hygiene. Not brushing your teeth will result to cavities and decays. Not visiting the dentist or delaying proper dental care can also worsen oral health issues. In Colorado, statistics show that 33% of adults have not visited a dentist in recent years and majority of adults suffer tooth loss.
Regardless of how you got that broken tooth, the issue here is that it’s not a pretty sight. Chances are you’re worried about people noticing and staring. Don’t worry—there are actually several treatment options for your dilemma. Here are some of them:
Dental Veneers
Broken or chipped teeth can be whole and healthy again with dental veneers. A dental veneer is a thin, translucent ceramic shell that dentists place over your tooth. There are many benefits you can get from dental veneers; Highlands Ranch cosmetic dental practitioners say that veneers don’t change color over time. They are also long-lasting, and scratch and stain resistant.
Root Canal
A chipped tooth exposes the pulp. Because of this, bacteria easily get in the mouth and cause infection. If your tooth hurts, chances are the pulp is infected. If not treated immediately, the tooth becomes damaged and it may have to be pulled out. Root canal treatment procedures involve taking out the infected pulp, cleaning the root canal, and sealing it.
Dental Filing or Bonding
If it’s only a small part of enamel that’s been chipped, dentists usually treat this with a filing. If the treatment is on the front tooth and can be noticed when smiling, dentists usually choose the dental bonding procedure, in which they place a tooth-colored composite resin.
If you want to know more about these dental treatments and other options for fixing your broken tooth, it’s best to consult your dentist. That way, they can also give helpful insight as to which treatment option is best for your condition.
