BROKEN TOOTH
At Gentle Dentistry of Tampa, Florida, we are here to help you with a wide range of unexpected situations. This includes the breakage of a natural tooth. While natural tooth enamel is one of the hardest substances in the human body, it can still experience breakage. When this happens, you must see a dentist in your community to fix the broken tooth and reduce the risk of more problems later.
WHY AM I EXPERIENCING A BROKEN TOOTH?
There are many reasons why you may experience broken teeth. A broken tooth can occur due to large cavities, dental trauma, lost restorations, or large pre-existing fillings. If a tooth is broken, it is vital that you see Drs. Angela Rasmussen and Amanda del Cueto to discuss your treatment options. They can evaluate the severity of your broken tooth to find ways to prevent further tooth pain or damage.
A broken tooth may be as minor as a break in the enamel layer or as severe as breaking the natural tooth down below the gum line or right into the root of the tooth to impact the nerves in the area. Sometimes a broken tooth won’t even cause pain, though it can result in expensive dental work if left untreated.
SYMPTOMS OF A BROKEN TOOTH
- Sensitivity when biting
- Temperature sensitivity
- Tooth feels sharp to the tongue in situations where a filling has come out
- Some patients even have no signs at all
Over time, the trauma that results from large fillings will cause the tooth to break. A damaged tooth might not experience sensitivity to pressure or temperature, but leaving it untreated often results in severe consequences, including losing a tooth or developing an infection.
HOW TO FIX A CHIPPED TOOTH WITH RESTORATIVE AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY OPTIONS
Our team can evaluate your chipped tooth to find the best solution. If the chip is minor, Drs. Angela Rasmussen and Amanda del Cueto often repair the chipped tooth with either a dental filling or composite resin bonding. However, if the breakage extends over half of the natural tooth structure, it will likely require the fabrication and placement of a dental crown to both maintain and protect the tooth while saving it from continued damage.
If the tooth breakage is found to extend into the inner core of the tooth, where the nerves and the blood vessels reside, it will require root canal therapy and a core buildup and crown to restore the tooth properly.
WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF I DO NOT ADDRESS A BROKEN TOOTH OR TEETH?
Left untreated, broken teeth have the chance of becoming infected and developing worse tooth decay. This can cause tooth pain and, in some cases, the loss of the natural tooth.
WORK WITH OUR DENTISTS TO FIND POTENTIAL DENTAL PROBLEMS EARLY ENOUGH FOR SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTION
To prevent issues down the line, you must keep your oral health and wellness in check by coming into Gentle Dentistry of Tampa, Florida, regularly for your dental evaluations. Drs. Angela Rasmussen and Amanda del Cueto will take images of the teeth at your routine dental visits to evaluate areas where cracks or decay might be developing.
Call us to request your next consultation visit and examination with our team at (813) 734-7102.
