Dentists fix cracked teeth using various methods. How your dentist in Clearwater, FL, treats your crack depends on the complexity or severity.
Let’s explore tooth chips and cracks and the methods we might use to repair them.
Types of Chips and Cracks
Chips can be minor and merely cosmetic, but even these fractures can worsen over time. And severe cracks or fractures leave your tooth vulnerable to infection and further damage. It’s always best to report chips—even those that are minor—to your dentist.
Craze Lines
Craze lines are minor chips in the enamel that don’t expose the underlayer. These types of chips are primarily cosmetic or virtually invisible. Your dentist can monitor craze lines through regular dental care and intervene if issues arise.
Cracked and Split Tooth
We can often repair cracked teeth with bonding or dental crowns. However, a tooth that breaks or splits below the gumline may require extraction followed by tooth replacement. Of course, your dentist will evaluate the tooth to see if it can be saved.
Vertical Root Fracture
Root fractures are not always noticeable because they start below the gumline. Sometimes, you’ll not notice the issue until the root becomes infected. Sometimes the dentist can treat the tooth with endodontic therapies, or it may need extracting.
Cusp Fracture
A fractured cusp—or chip at the tooth surface—may cause sensitivity to hot and cold. Your dentist may treat the fracture with a tooth-colored filling, bonding material, or a dental crown.
Treating a Chipped or Fractured Tooth
Your Clearwater dentist may present options or recommend a specific treatment for best results.
Options for fixing cracked or chipped teeth may include:
- Tooth-colored filling
- Dental bonding
- Inlay or onlay
- Dental crown
A tooth-colored filling is ideal for small chips and relies on tooth-colored resin to fill the crack. Bonding is made of the same material, and your dentist may choose this method if the chip detracts from your smile aesthetic.
Inlays and onlays fall somewhere between fillings and dental crowns—a tooth that needs a bit more than a standard filling but not quite a dental crown. Inlays and onlays fit over the cusps or between the cusps of teeth.
Dental crowns are tooth caps that look like your natural teeth. They fit over the damaged tooth, providing protection and support.
When Your Tooth Cannot Be Saved
It is best to report chips and fractures to your dentist as soon as possible to avoid further breakage or infection. In some cases, infection can travel to the root, which means root canal therapy in Clearwater, FL.
And substantial breaks and damage are not always treatable with a dental crown. But if you do need an extraction, we offer quality tooth replacement options to restore your smile.
Your dentist recommends tooth replacement to keep your oral health in check. A complete smile guards against tooth migration and tooth wear.
Our dentist will talk to you about tooth replacement options and help you choose the best one for your smile goals and budget.
When a Chipped Tooth Is a Dental Emergency
If you have a small chip in your tooth, it probably isn’t a dental emergency. However, it’s probably best to arrange a visit with the dentist in the coming days for an evaluation.
A chip or fracture that causes pain or swelling is a dental emergency in Clearwater, and we want to hear from you right away! Pain and swelling are signs of infection, and without treatment, you risk losing the tooth or infection spread.
Tooth Restoration in Clearwater, FL
Schedule your next visit with the dentist today, and don’t forget to ask a team member about our exclusive savings plan. We are also happy to work with CareCredit.
Related Services: General Dentistry
