An unexpected and intense pain caused by a huge cavity, a knocked-out tooth, or a chipped tooth are all examples of dental emergencies. To manage these emergencies, contact an emergency dentist who can provide assistance.
If you have a broken or chipped tooth, you should always see a dentist immediately for a repair. Chips that are left untreated can easily decay and can get worse over time. If you do not seek attention for the broken tooth, you might need a root canal, and eventually you could lose the tooth.
Tooth enamel is some of the strongest tissue in your body, but it is still vulnerable to chipping and breaking. An accident such as a fall, contact sports, using your teeth to tear open plastic, or biting down on hard foods, such as an apple, can cause a broken tooth.
Individuals who are age 50 or older are also more at risk for encountering chipped or broken teeth since tooth enamel will weaken with age.
If you have a broken or chipped tooth try a same day dentist to get quick and easy repairs. In the meantime, there are some steps you can take to minimize the pain and lower the chances of further injury to the tooth until you can see a dentist.
What to do for a chipped tooth:
- Rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouth wash
- Floss to get rid of any food particles
- Take ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation
- Use an ice pack on the outside of your cheek
- Coat tooth edges with dental wax
- Use temporary bonding material to round out jagged edges
What will the dentist do to repair my chipped tooth?
There are several ways to treat a broken tooth depending on how severe the chip or break turns out to be. Our emergency dentists at H-Town Dental will use a simple bond or veneers to repair the tooth. Other treatments can include adding a filling, or caps and crowns. If the fracture is serious our dentists may even recommend that you get a root canal.
Let’s break down each treatment:
Bonding. This involves molding a composite material over the chip and the healthy area of the tooth. It also requires roughing up the remaining enamel to enable the composite to attach properly and shape the bond creating a natural looking cover. The bonding will then be set with a blue light to harden the material. Bonds normally last around 10 years.
Veneers. If you have more severe damage this may require a veneer or dental implant. Veneers require placing porcelain covers over a tooth, resulting in a smooth natural look that is identical, or even better, than your original teeth. A veneer can be installed over one or several teeth to create a uniform look. A veneer can last 10 to 20 years.
Dental filling. These are a common way to repair a broken tooth or cavity, especially if it is a back tooth or chipped molar because they are not very visible. Today, dentists use a porcelain material for fillings that more closely resemble your natural teeth.
Crowns and caps. Like veneers, dental crowns and caps are porcelain covers for your teeth. However, a crown covers the entire tooth. Crowns are used when the break or crack has caused significant loss to the tooth. Crowns require two visits to the emergency dentist to create the mold for the crowns and the second visit to cement the crown in place.
Root canal. If a major part of your tooth is broken off but the roof remains intact, your dentist might recommend a root canal. A root canal involves placing a post in the canal of your tooth. This will build up the tooth structure so that a temporary crown can be placed and a follow up later for a permanent one to be cemented over the post.
H-town Dental is Here for Your Emergency Dental Needs
To meet your needs, H-Town Dental offers urgent care dental services. Don’t wait any longer; call us, make an appointment or walk in for a visit to one of our three locations.
H-Town Dental is proud to be the parent company of three dental practices in the Houston region. For people of all ages, individualized attention is paired with cost-effective, innovative dental care. We also offer other services such as dentures, dental implants, porcelain crowns and teeth whitening in Houston.
