Cracked Or Chipped Front Tooth – What Can You Do?
You may think that your teeth are indestructible, but they are not. Poor dental hygiene, unanticipated accidents,and genetics can all cause your perfectly normal, strong teeth to crack or chip. In case you crack or chip your front tooth, it is important to book an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will quickly look at your chipped or cracked tooth and determine the best treatment option for your situation.
Several different treatment options may be offered to you when you visit your dentist for a cracked or chipped tooth. This article will take a look at some of the treatment options for your cracked or chipped a front tooth.
What Can You Do
As soon as you have a cracked or chipped tooth, it is important that you visit your dentist immediately. In the meantime, our dentists in Melbourne recommend some few tips you can use to relieve pain and reduce swelling:
- Rinse out your mouth with some warm salty water.
- Take an over-the-counter painkiller such as acetaminophen.
- To prevent a jagged or sharp tooth edge from cutting your mouth or tongue, cover the chipped or cracked tooth with a piece of sugar-free chewing gum or wax paraffin.
- If you are hungry and need to eat, stick to soft foods and avoid chewing with your chipped or cracked tooth.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are a common type of restorative treatment option for chipped or cracked teeth. Permanent dental crowns are made of a variety of materials, each containing their own benefits. Some of the materials used in making permanent dental crowns include; porcelain, metal, resin, ceramic or porcelain fused to metal. If the root of the chipped or cracked tooth is still intact, you may need a root canal treatment to build up the tooth structure before adding a dental crown.
A dental crown treatment procedure normally takes a couple of visits to the dental clinic. During your first visit, your dentist may take an x-ray to examine your surrounding roots and bone. If there are no problems found, your dentist will numb the affected tooth area, remove some of the remaining teeth and prepare the area for a dental crown. You may also require a dental filing to build up the tooth structure if the tooth has large chips or cracks.
After this has been done, your tooth impression will be taken along with the opposing tooth you use to bite down. Once all this is ready, you will have to go for a second appointment where your dentist can permanently place your new dental crown.
Other Treatment Options
There are other treatment options for chipped or cracked tooth such as dental bonding. Dental bonding is usually done when only a small section of your tooth has chipped off,and there is no damage done to the root of the tooth. Another treatment option for restoring cracked or chipped front teeth is dental veneers. Dental veneers are false teeth, which are used to cover up an existing chipped or cracked tooth while giving the appearance of your natural tooth.
Bottom Line
Unfortunately, a cracked or chipped front tooth is not something that can simply heal on its own. Dental crowns, dental bonding/filling,and veneers are just some of the various options you may have for a cracked or chipped front tooth. Call or visit us at Springvale Dental Clinic to learn more about how our dentists can best treat your chipped or cracked tooth.
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