Despite the fact that teeth are incredibly strong, it’s not uncommon to break a tooth. Broken teeth happen for a number of reasons including weakness caused by decay, eating hard foods, and injury. Regardless of how a broken tooth happens, it’s important to deal with it calmly and quickly. Here are a few options for dealing with a broken tooth:

1. Composite Veneers

If a broken tooth occurs in the front of the mouth, it can cause insecurity and embarrassment. One way to fix this problem and make the broken tooth look whole again is with composite veneers.

Composite veneers are thin shells of composite resin applied to a broken tooth to fill in the missing part. An impression of your mouth is used to ensure the prosthetic tooth fits perfectly. When all is said and done, the composite veneer acts just like the natural tooth and it’s almost impossible to tell that the tooth was ever broken in the first place.

2. Fillings and Bonding

If a tooth is chipped just a little, a dentist may opt for simply filling the minor imperfection. If the chip happens to be in the front of the mouth or shows when you smile, the dentist may use a process called bonding to fix it.

Bonding involves applying an adhesive to the damaged area and then filling the chip with a tooth-colored resin. The dentist then shapes the resin to resemble a natural tooth and hardens it with a UV light. Bonding can often be done without numbing the tooth.

3. Caps and Crowns

If a large section of tooth breaks off, your dentist may recommend a cap or crown to repair the damage. Think of a crown as a cap or cover designed to make a broken tooth whole again. If a crown is necessary, the dentist will grind away any decay that’s present to create a strong seat for the crown.

Getting a crown typically takes more than one visit to the dentist as impressions are taken and sent off to a lab to create a crown that’s a custom fit. Some dentists, however, have the capabilities to create crowns without an impression during a single visit.

4. Root Canals

Most people cringe when they hear the term, “root canal,” because the procedure is notoriously painful. The good news is, most root canals are no more painful than having a tooth filled. The bad news is, if you need a root canal, the affected tooth is usually weakened by the procedure.

If a broken tooth is so bad that it leaves the pulp (root) of the tooth exposed, bacteria can cause an infection. During a root canal, the dentist removes the root and cleans out the root canal, sealing it to prevent further infection. Lastly, the dentist in New York puts a crown on the tooth to help strengthen it.

Tips for Dealing with a Broken Tooth Until You Can Get to the Dentist

If you have a broken tooth but can’t get into the dentist right away, here are a few tips that may help:

1. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed and rinse with saltwater.

2. Use wax or sugar-free gum to cover sharp edges.

3. Eat soft foods and avoid chewing on the broken tooth.

A broken tooth can be painful and inconvenient, so dealing with it right away is best. From composite veneers to root canal therapy, you have several options for taking care of the problem calmly and efficiently.