So you bit down too hard or had a fall, and you felt a crack or a chip in one of your teeth. While it may happen to the best of us, a chipped or broken tooth is still a cause for concern and not just a cosmetic problem. When your tooth chips or breaks, a piece of the enamel breaks off, exposing dentin – the middle layer of the tooth – and causing sensitivity or pain depending on the size and severity of the break. Exposed teeth quickly become more susceptible to bacteria, which may lead to damage or decay if not addressed appropriately.
While you may be thinking of hard candy as the primary culprit, chipped teeth can happen for various reasons.
Aside from impacting the look of your smile, chipped or broken teeth can lead to further dental issues and complications when not addressed by a dentist. If you think of teeth like bones, it makes sense that you’d need the help of a professional when it comes to fractures and breaks. A chip of any size increases your tooth’s exposure to bacteria, leaving it more susceptible to structural loss and damage. Larger chips can quickly impact the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue in the interior part of your tooth, leading to infection and decay. If a chipped or broken tooth is not addressed, it can lead to:
If you’ve just chipped or broken a tooth, you’re in the right place. Prompt attention from Today’s Dental in Omaha will minimize your risk of any complications from your chipped or broken tooth and get your smile back in working order. Whether dealing with a tiny chip or a large crack or break, we will establish a treatment plan that puts your oral health front and center and gets you back to your day-to-day routine. Treatments might include:
If you have a minor chip that does not require further intervention, we will file and polish the edges to protect the rest of your mouth from painful cuts.
When broken teeth result in damage to the pulp or root, you may need a root canal to remove the damaged tissue before a crown can be placed over the tooth.
If your tooth needs to be filled or rebuilt, we may use a bonding of composite resins designed to match your tooth’s color and size.
For more severe damage, we may use a crown or veneer that protects your tooth from bacteria that causes infections.
In short, broken teeth tend to be fairly simple to treat. The key is getting seen by Today’s Dental, so we can form a treatment plan and get you back on track.
You should rinse your mouth with warm water and apply pressure to stop any bleeding. If you can find the broken piece of tooth, wrap it in a wet material (gauze, napkin, etc.) and bring it with you to the dentist. If you’re having pain, you can take acetaminophen (Tylenol). You’ll want to be seen for an evaluation by your dentist as soon as possible. Call the office directly or use our Text-a-Dentist option to contact your dentist to set up an appointment. Please be sure to send a picture of the broken tooth so your dentist can evaluate how quickly you need to be seen.
Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply pressure to stop any bleeding. If the tooth is clean, you can put it back in the tooth socket. Don’t scrub the tooth or clean off any bits of tissue. If it isn’t possible to put the tooth back in its socket, keep it in your mouth between your cheek and gums, or put it in a glass of milk or water until you can get to the dentist to be evaluated. There are also preservation formulas called “Save a Tooth” you can keep in your first aid kit. Sometimes a whole, intact tooth can be re-implanted in your mouth, so you want to try to keep the tooth and tissues moist and clean. You should have this injury looked at by a dentist as soon as possible- usually within 30 minutes, if possible. Please call our offices or use Text a Dentist to let us help you evaluate how quickly you should be seen.
At Today’s Dental, we can assess your oral health to help find the cause of your bad breath. Then, we can provide you with a halitosis treatment that will give you the confidence you need to smile wide. Book your appointment right now, and let us help you get a fresher breath.
Our professional dental staff is sensitive to what you may be feeling if you have chronic bad breath. We are committed to being caring and compassionate. It’s our job to help you in all matters of oral health, including halitosis. You don’t need to feel anxious or embarrassed to discuss your bad breath condition with us. We are here to listen carefully to you and then closely examine your teeth, gums, and mouth so we can diagnose your condition correctly. A good diagnosis is the first step toward a successful treatment. Your dentist in Omaha has the qualifications to treat halitosis and prevent it from returning.
“Thank you, Today’s Dental. And thank you, Dr. Masters, for getting me in on short notice to fix my chipped tooth. You did great. No more pain from it rubbing up against my tongue. I appreciate your being personable and remembering I work at the post office after only one visit. See you all again soon.”
“The staff is awesome and super welcoming! I had a broken tooth, and they set me up to get it taken care of asap with an oral surgeon and listened to all of my concerns! Totally recommending my friends and family to this location!”
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