Our set of teeth are very strong and durable, but they can be subject to a lot of stress and strains which can potentially chip, crack, or break them. Luckily, there are treatments available for all this. Dentists North Wales can fix your teeth so it’s as if it never happened.
What causes your teeth to break or chip?
- Eating something that is too hard
- Trauma after an accident
- Damage from playing sport
- Untreated cavities leading to a tooth becoming unstable
- Old amalgam fillings which makes the remaining tooth structure weak over time.
Broken teeth won’t always cause immediate pain, it usually only does when the damage travels up to the nerve. You can develop sensitivity or discomfort when eating instead.
Whether your tooth hurts or not, you should always get chips looked at by your dentist so that the tooth’s health can be checked.
How will my broken tooth get fixed?
If you have a small chip on the edge of your tooth, this won’t usually cause any issues or pain. Your dentist will likely suggest smoothing the edge to prevent you from cutting your lips or tongue on the chip.
Seriously damaged and broken teeth will require more complicated treatment. If a large cavity has caused damage to your tooth, then you may require a root canal. Cracks and breaks may end up exposing your nerve ending which leads to your teeth being sensitive to hot and cold.
However, root canal isn’t always necessary. When there is no infection to sort out, the cracks can be filled, or a broken tooth can have a crown placed over the top.
As a last resort, if your tooth is decayed throughout and there is no saving it from the damage, then the tooth will have to be removed.
What shall I do if I break my tooth?
If you have broken your tooth you must follow these steps to care for it:
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Apply pressure to the area which is bleeding with a gauze or wet tea bag.
- If you can, cover any major cracks with temporary dental cement.
- If you are in pain, use over the counter pain relief like paracetamol.
- Put your broken teeth in milk, saliva, or saline liquid.
