Every broken tooth is a serious dental problem, even if it seems like the damage is minor and inconsequential at the time. You don’t have to be in pain or have a severe break for a damaged tooth to create a waterfall of oral health problems. At Beachside Smiles in Manhattan Beach, CA, consider any broken tooth a dental emergency and contact us right away so we can see you right away and initiate the necessary repairs to fix your smile.
Causes of a Broken Tooth
Whether you chip a front tooth, break a molar, lose a filling, have a broken crown, or crack a veneer, it’s important to share with your Manhattan Beach dentist exactly what happened so they can determine what kind of dental care you need.
Sometimes patients don’t know what led to a broken tooth, and it’s important to be honest about the details, as sparse as they may be. Your dentist’s expertise will guide them in determining what happened to cause this emergency and what to do from here on out.
Teeth are very strong and durable, but broken teeth do happen. Here are some of the common causes:
- Blow to the mouth: Maybe your toddler threw their heavy toy just right and hit you in the mouth, you took a soccer ball to the face, or you were in a car accident. A tooth can break instantly when you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Deteriorating dental work: All dental work is made to last, but fillings do age, as well as crowns, and after a few decades you may lose a restoration and need to have it replaced. Patients who have silver fillings are even more likely to experience this complication.
- Teeth grinding: If you chronically grind your teeth at night, you can weaken or damage tooth enamel which leads to breaks.
- Biting down wrong: Did you try to bite a lollipop or gumball or put your teeth together to crunch a piece of ice? Maybe you used your mouth to open a package. Actions like these can result in a broken tooth in no time.
Repairs for a Broken Tooth
Every broken tooth needs immediate attention. Problems related to broken teeth escalate quickly because the compromised tooth is now susceptible to bacteria and food particles. Some of the most common broken tooth repairs include:
- Tooth-colored filling: When a tooth has a minor break, the damage can be easily fixed with a composite, tooth-colored filling which stabilizes the structure of the tooth and prevents further damage.
- Porcelain crown: Some tooth breaks are too large to correct with a filling and are better repaired with a customized porcelain crown. This customized restoration covers the entire tooth to correct the damage and protect it from here on out.
- Dental bonding: A tooth that has a purely cosmetic break or chip may be easily and quickly fixed with non-invasive dental bonding that takes only about 30 minutes per tooth to correct.
- Inlay or onlay: Best known as a partial crown, this repair is great stabilizer for a broken tooth that can’t handle a filling but doesn’t need a full grown.
- Tooth extraction: Removing a tooth is always a last resort for any dentist – saving your natural tooth is the goal. When extraction is the only option, the procedure is carried out once you’ve settled on the dental restoration – dental implants or dental bridge – to replace the missing tooth.
Get Emergency Dentistry for a Broken Tooth in Manhattan Beach
If you suffer a broken tooth, contact Beachside Smiles in Manhattan Beach immediately to get the emergency dentistry you need to tend to the problem. Dental problems are never convenient, but it should be comforting to know you have a dental practice ready to help with whatever complications arise with your oral health. Contact us today.
