Whether you’re involved in sports that could lead to chipped, cracked, and broken teeth, you grind your teeth at night, or you’ve suffered infections and tooth decay that led to breakage or tooth loss, you probably want to address the problem immediately. Leaving such issues untreated can be harmful to your health and impact your appearance.
Luckily, there are a wide variety of options to consider when it comes to treating broken or missing teeth. In some cases, a tooth that has been knocked out can be reattached if it is intact, but you’ll need to keep it moist and get to the dentist immediately.
Generally speaking, however, you may have to consider other options, depending on the level of trauma to the tooth and surrounding tissue. Here are a just a few potential treatments for broken or knocked out teeth.
Filling
A chip or break need not spell disaster or major expense. In some cases, a simple filling may be able to protect your tooth from further harm.
Bonding
Dental bonding may be used in a variety of situations, including damage to teeth like cracks, chips, and minor breaks. In such instances, bonding material is applied to the tooth, sculpted to regain the original appearance, and then dried, hardened, and polished. Bonding generally lasts up to ten years and is a relatively affordable option in instances of minimal damage.
Crown
If the damage to your tooth is more extensive than a filling or bonding can repair, you may have to opt for a crown that provides more coverage for your tooth. In cases of broken teeth, this is one of the most common treatment options to protect the remaining natural tooth and restore your smile.
Veneers
Extensive veneers can be expensive, but you don’t necessarily have to cover your entire grill – veneers can be applied to only damaged teeth, provided that enough of the tooth remains to attach the facing. A veneer will be custom made to approximate the size and shape of the original tooth. Once it is ready, you’ll return to have it attached to the tooth.
Dental Implant
If you’re dealing with outright tooth loss, replacement may be the only option. In this case, you could opt for bridgework or dentures, but dental implants are the best treatment as they are permanent, long-lasting, convenient, attractive, and offer the same function and convenience as a natural tooth.
