Broken Tooth Treatment — Preventing Further Tooth Damage

Broken teeth can occur for various reasons, from sports injuries to falls. In some cases, a broken tooth can be considered a dental emergency, such as when there is damage to the tooth’s pulp.

Damaging the pulp can lead to infection, pulp necrosis, and nerve damage; each of these complications is often accompanied by severe, chronic pain.

As a result, it is crucial to visit an emergency dentist immediately to receive broken tooth treatment to prevent further damage to your smile and oral health.

Broken Tooth Treatment: Dental Filling

A dental filling is a common restoration for a broken tooth. At Gordon Family Dental, we use tooth-coloured composite resin fillings that seamlessly blend with your smile. These metal-free fillings can fully repair minor chips, cracks and breaks in a tooth. 

Composite resin fillings preserve more of your natural tooth structure and are applied and cured in layers, so your tooth’s strength and appearance are restored.   

Broken Tooth Treatment: Dental Crown

An emergency dentist may recommend a dental crown if the tooth break or damage is too large for a standard filling. Crowns cover the entire surface of a damaged tooth, restoring its functionality, strength and appearance. 

When a traditional dental crown is prescribed, your dentist removes damaged tooth tissue before prepping the remaining tooth structure to accommodate a temporary crown. Your dentist takes an impression of the tooth structure so a permanent crown can be fabricated off-site. You revisit your dentist to remove your temporary crown and apply your custom crown. 

At Gordon Family Dental, we also offer same-day CEREC crowns so you can leave our practice with a fully restored smile. No messy putty impressions or a temporary crown are necessary, so you spend less time in the dental chair.  

Broken Tooth Treatment: Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy may be necessary if the dental pulp is infected. If infected, it is usually considered a dental emergency, and quick treatment can save the tooth.

During a root canal treatment, your dentist removes the soft tissue inside of the tooth and then cleans and seals the root canals. You may receive a temporary filling, and once the infection subsides, receive a permanent filling or a dental crown to restore the tooth’s functionality and integrity. 

Broken Tooth Treatment: Tooth Extraction

Unfortunately, in some cases, the damage to your tooth may be extensive, and your emergency dentist may have to extract the tooth. In this case, you will discuss tooth replacement options with your dentist to prevent a gap in your smile. 

Dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement restorations. They look and function like real teeth, with high-quality implants often indistinguishable from natural teeth. 

Treat Your Dental Emergency at Gordon Family Dental

If you experience a broken tooth, seek treatment for your dental emergency as soon as possible. Rapid treatment from an emergency dentist can save your tooth and increase the likelihood of a positive outcome. 

We can help you assess your dental emergency and discuss your broken tooth treatment options at Gordon Family Dental. Call us on (02) 9159 6163 today.

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

References

Dental Fillings
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/dental-fillings

Engineering Properties and Performance of Dental Crowns
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16050215/

Root Canal Treatment and General Health: A Review of the Literature
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11307468/

Tooth Loss
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/tooth-loss

Dental Implants: A Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26995275/

Dental Emergencies
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071467/