Did you know that in just a small area of the state of Nevada, a study was conducted that revealed that over 800 patients had cracked teeth? Imagine the number of cracked teeth people have on a national level!
Clearly, having a cracked tooth is much more common than we’d like. Thankfully though, there are several dental procedures available that can help fix it! Keep reading to learn about the most common ones.
Root Canal Treatment
A root canal dental procedure can save your tooth by cleaning it out, removing the cracked portion, and keeping the rest of it healthy. And while root canal treatment is expensive, it can be more cost-effective in the long run than a cracked tooth repair.
The problem with cracked teeth is that they are often not seen as emergencies. People end up putting off their cracked tooth fix because it’s not a noticeable enough problem to warrant rushing to the dentist right away.
Dental Crowns
If you’ve cracked your tooth so badly that you’re worried it might end up falling out, you might want to have a dental crown put on it. A dental crown is a removable, toothpaste-like filling made of a solid material bonded to your tooth, not the tooth enamel like a regular filling. In fact, the dental crown is usually stronger than the tooth underneath it so that it can protect your tooth and prevent you from chewing on it too much.
A crown can be a great way to fix a cracked tooth, but it has a few drawbacks. They are more expensive than regular dental fillings, require a dental appointment to remove, and don’t protect your other teeth while eating. Take a look here for more information.
Dental Bonding
If your cracked tooth is small enough and doesn’t affect your eating (or drinking) habits, it may be possible to keep it. To do this, you’ll likely have a dental professional put a dental bonding on your tooth.
The bonding is a quick, temporary filling that’s colored with a stain so that you can tell it apart from your teeth. Plus, incredibly easy to remove yourself. If you notice that you’ve accidentally chipped a tooth, or if you’re eating a certain food that’s damaging your teeth, you can simply remove the dental bond, and your tooth will be fine.
Veneers
If you have a really bad cracked tooth that’s excessively painful, you might consider having veneers put on it. Veneers are custom-made crowns made of porcelain or composite material. They look similar to your natural teeth and can improve your smile.
Most veneers are placed over your cracked tooth, but there are several options to choose from. You can have veneers that change the shape of your teeth to give you a straighter smile, veneers that change the color of your teeth, and veneers that are designed to cover up a large, crooked tooth.
Visit Your Dentist To Fix Your Cracked Tooth
A cracked tooth often indicates a problem, whether it’s a sensitivity to certain foods, a clenching problem, or something more serious. It’s important to get your cracked teeth checked out so that you don’t end up causing more damage in the future. If you’d like to keep reading on dental-related subjects, keep browsing!
