Knowing how a dentist addresses a fractured tooth can make a significant difference in your recovery. When you experience a crack in your smile, the sensations might range from a slight annoyance to sharp, intense pain that makes it hard to focus on your day. Beyond the immediate discomfort, an opening in your enamel allows bacteria to seep into the inner layers, creating a pathway for infections that could potentially move into your jaw or gums. To avoid these health complications, visiting a professional for a repair is the best way to handle the situation. At Suncreek Dental Group, Dr. Ryan Cooper works with patients to identify the extent of the damage and provide solutions that keep your mouth healthy for years to come.
Causes of Tooth Fractures
Learning why teeth break is a great way to protect your smile from future injuries. When you know the risks, you can change small habits to keep your enamel intact, and identifying the specific cause of a break often helps our team decide which treatment will work best for your specific case.
- Chewing on ice or pens can put too much stress on the tooth surface.
- Chronic clenching or grinding wears down the natural strength of your bite.
- Sudden impacts from sports injuries or household accidents often result in chips.
- Uneven pressure caused by missing teeth or a misaligned bite can strain certain areas.
- Existing weaknesses from large older fillings or previous root canal work make a tooth more brittle.
How Our Team Fixes Cracked Teeth
Every patient who comes into our Littleton office has a different story, so we look at each fracture individually to see how deep it goes. The following methods are the standard ways Dr. Ryan Cooper restores the integrity of your smile.
Fixing Small Flaws with Bonding
For minor surface damage that hasn’t reached the root, dental bonding is a reliable and quick option. We use a tooth-colored resin that we carefully shape over the crack to seal it shut and prevent it from spreading deeper into the structure. This process restores the full function of your bite and also serves as a cosmetic fix, meaning you can leave our office feeling happy with the way your smile looks in the mirror.
Strengthening Moderate Damage with Crowns
A dental crown, which many people refer to as a cap, is a sturdy restoration that sits directly over your tooth to hold it together. Because these are custom-made at our trusted family dental office, we ensure the shape and color match your surrounding teeth perfectly. This provides a protective shield that absorbs the pressure of chewing so the underlying crack does not get any worse.
Addressing Severe Breaks with Root Canals or Extractions
When a fracture is deep enough to reach the inner pulp where your nerves live, we have to look at more involved solutions to save your health.
- Root canal therapy is the go-to choice when the pulp is irritated but the rest of the tooth can still be saved.
- If the damage has split the tooth below the gum line or ruined the root structure entirely, we may have to remove the tooth to stop the pain.
- For those who require an extraction, we will walk you through various replacement options like bridges or implants so you don’t have to live with a gap in your smile.
Get Help for a Cracked Tooth
Dr. Ryan Cooper and the team at Suncreek Dental Group are ready to provide the care you need to return to your normal routine without pain. We focus on providing a comfortable environment for all our Littleton neighbors who are experiencing dental trouble. If you are worried about a tooth that feels sharp or sensitive, please reach out to our office to see what we can do for you.
Category: Emergency Dentistry