Stone Oak Dental Office: Repair Broken Teeth
Our San Antonio (Stone Oak) dental office is able to quickly and effectively examine your broken teeth and offer treatment options. A broken tooth is considered a dental emergency. Call our office to speak to our staff – we usually have same day emergency treatment services available.
What to Do When You Have a Broken Tooth
If you break a tooth, try to save any pieces that come off. Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Over the counter pain relievers can help you to manage the pain until you can get the treatment that you need.
If you’re a patient or in the Stone Oak area of San Antonio, call us to see if we can get you in for an emergency appointment.
Chipped or Broken Tooth Types
- Chipped Teeth – A minor chipped tooth may not be all that serious to address. It may just require dental bonding to restore the tooth’s appearance and to protect the damaged tooth. A more significant chipped tooth may require more significant efforts to perform a broken tooth repair. In this case, a restorative dental procedure like a dental crown may be required to perform an effective chipped tooth repair.
- Knocked Out Teeth – A tooth getting knocked out is a dental emergency requiring immediate action in order to have a chance to possibly save the tooth. Getting treatment within 60 minutes can greatly increase the chances that your tooth can be replanted. Pick up the tooth by the crown, gently rinse and reinsert the tooth if possible. If the tooth can’t be reinserted, keep the tooth moist by placing it in milk. Call an emergency dentist as soon as possible.
- Cracked Teeth – A cracked tooth can be a very significant issue. You can tell if you have a fractured tooth is if there are significant visible lines running either vertically or horizontally across your teeth.
Note cracked teeth are different than “craze lines” which can be naturally occurring tiny lines in tooth enamel. Craze lines don’t cause pain and don’t require treatment. When in doubt, call your dentist for their assessment of your situation.
Most Common Dental Treatments to Repair Broken Teeth
Depending on the severity of the cracked or broken tooth, there are a number of options that we may employ in our dental office to get your tooth fixed. Options range from treatments as simple as composite fillings to more complex procedures like dental implants.
Dental Filling and Bonding
Dental bonding fixes small chips or cracks in teeth. Our dentist Dr. Jabbour will apply a tooth colored resin to the affected tooth. He will then shape it to match the tooth and harden it with a special light. Usually this procedure takes an hour or less
For larger breaks, dental fillings may be required. First, Dr. Jabbour will remove any decay and fill the hole with materials like composite resin.
Root Canal Therapy
A badly broken tooth may need a root canal if the break extends to the pulp which can infect the pulp of the tooth and even spread to surrounding teeth. A root canal prevents the need for a tooth extraction.
This procedure usually requires around two hours in our dental office and also usually requires two visits. We make you comfortable during all of the dental procedures in our office.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns cover and protect badly damaged teeth. They fit over the entire visible part of the tooth. Crowns are made of porcelain, metal, or both. They restore the tooth’s shape, size, and strength.
Tooth Extractions
Sometimes a tooth is too damaged to save. In these cases, extraction of the entire tooth is necessary. In this case, Dr. Jabbour will numb the area and remove the what is left of the remaining tooth that can’t be salvaged.
Once your natural tooth has been removed, you’ll want to restore the functionality of that tooth. Left untreated, a missing tooth can lead to bone loss in your jaw which can lead to deterioration of your overall oral health – including additional tooth loss. Your teeth may shift to fill the space that was vacated by the extracted tooth.
Dental Implant
Dental implants are a surgical procedure that replace the area vacated when your natural tooth was removed with a dental implant. It involves an implant post that is embedded into your jaw and a crown that sits at the very top of the implant and looks and functions like a natural tooth. These two are connected by an implant abutment.
The end result is a replacement for your lost tooth that looks and feels like your normal tooth. Plus, a dental implant can last a lifetime with proper oral care.
Preventing Broken Teeth
Healthy Diet
You can take steps to avoid broken teeth. Avoiding hard foods that can damage teeth like candy, nuts, popcorn kernels, and ice can help to protect you from chipping or cracking your teeth and needing an emergency dentist.
Keep tooth decay at bay by avoiding sugary and acidic foods which can work to erode the enamel on your teeth.
If your tooth is already damaged, be sure to eat soft foods to avoid putting pressure on the broken tooth. Good choices include yogurt, soup, and mashed potatoes. You’ll obviously want to avoid chewing on the side of your mouth with the broken tooth as this can make the tooth damage even worse.
Protective Mouth Guards
If you’re active in sports or if you grind your teeth at night, be sure to wear a custom fitted mouth guard.
Night Guards
A night guard can protect you from teeth grinding which can cause significant damage to your teeth while you sleep at night.
Grinding can wear down enamel, leading to tooth sensitivity and increased risk of decay. It may also cause teeth to chip, crack, or become loose over time.
Signs of grinding include flat or worn down teeth, sensitive teeth, headaches and jaw pain.
In addition to regular dental exams, sharing your history with your dentist can assist your dentist in determining whether you would be a good candidate for a night guard.
Athletic Mouth Guards
An athletic mouthguard can protect your teeth from impacts causing dental injury that can occur when you’re participating in sports.
