Cracked or broken teeth
Cracked, chipped and broken teeth are usually caused by a dental trauma such as falling, being hit in the mouth with something or a sports injury. Luckily, if immediate care is sought, the natural tooth can sometimes be saved. For a minor crack or chip, cosmetic bonding may be a viable treatment option. In cosmetic bonding, a composite resin, in a color custom-made to match the tooth, is applied in liquid form and hardened with a special light. Several layers of bonding material can be applied to reconstruct a larger area of missing tooth, and chips that have been saved can sometimes be reattached as well. If you’ve experienced a broken tooth, it best to find and save the broken piece if at all possible. Keep in a glass of milk to keep it safe and moist and seek emergency dental care as soon as possible for your best chance of saving your natural tooth.
Veneers are another treatment used to restore a broken tooth. Veneers are comprised of wafer-thin shells that are adhered to the front surface of the teeth. They can correct chipped and cracked teeth, as well as strengthening the tooth and improving the overall appearance of the tooth.
If the tooth has been knocked out completely or is extensively damaged to the point where it unsalvageable, a dental implant may be the only treatment option. Whatever remains of the broken tooth will need to be extracted to make way for the dental implant. Dental implants are designed to look, feel, and function like natural teeth. With implants, a small titanium screw-like device made of titanium metal is inserted into the jaw bone where the root of the natural tooth used to be. During the healing time, which can range from a few weeks to a few months, it will fuse to the bone and surrounding tissues. At this point, a prosthetic tooth is attached, which has been custom created to mimic the appearance of the patient’s natural tooth and blend in seamlessly with the remaining teeth.
If left untreated, missing teeth can lead to bone deterioration and eventually cause the remaining teeth to become misaligned and the jaw to shrink. Often times, patients with broken or missing teeth will be referred to a periodontist for treatment. Dr. Côté has over two decades of experience in treated patients with broken, chipped, badly decayed and missing teeth, and takes great pride in providing high quality treatments that restore the function and appearance of a patient’s mouth.