If you have damaged your tooth, you need a dental restoration quickly. It is fairly common for people to crack their tooth by biting down on something hard or having an accident while playing sports, etc. Many people think that they can simply live with the discomfort or that the crack really isn't bad enough to warrant dental care. This is a mistake. If your tooth ever becomes cracked, even slightly, you need to seek dental attention immediately so that the problem doesn't become worse.

Here's why –

A cracked tooth creates the perfect opening for bacteria. Remember that bacteria are microscopic. It doesn't require a large hole or crack to get into the center of your tooth. The smallest damage creates all of the opportunity it needs to get inside your tooth and infect it. Unfortunately, an infection in the dental pulp (interior of the tooth) can be incredibly painful. There is no way to determine how quickly bacteria will enter your tooth, infect it, and cause you discomfort. However, if this does happen, you can get a toothache quickly which may result in the need for an emergency dentist appointment.

You can avoid needing to make a panicked phone call by calling our office and scheduling a dental restoration right away. We have several solutions available to you and will recommend the least invasive option to address your issue. If you have something like a small crack, we can perform a simple bonding procedure that same day. This is where we take a tooth-colored material that is soft and shape it in a way to correct the damage while looking like your natural tooth. Once in place, we will use a dental light to harden the material until it is strong enough to use as a normal tooth. This process is fairly quick so that your tooth can be restored the same day.

If you have more extensive damage or are interested in a cosmetic dentistry solution, you should consider using a dental veneer to fix your cracked tooth. A veneer is a thin shell that sits on top of your natural tooth, essentially replacing the enamel. The reason that so many people love veneers is that they can correct a variety of aesthetic issues with their teeth. They can close gaps in between teeth, make them appear straighter, cover dark stains, change their shape and size, etc. Many of our patients will use the opportunity of fixing a damaged tooth also to address the visual imperfections of the surrounding teeth. In fact, veneers are the most commonly used solution for creating perfect, Hollywood-style smiles. From a practical standpoint, they are also extremely effective as dental restoration and can be used to correct a cracked or chipped tooth.

However, if the damage to your tooth is extensive, we will typically recommend a natural-looking dental crown instead. A crown offers the most protection to your tooth because it surrounds it entirely. A crown is a cap that can be made of all-ceramic or silver amalgam. In either case, it will protect your tooth from becoming more damaged and reduce the risk of a cracked or chipped tooth becoming infected. With that in mind, if any of your teeth are damaged, call our office right away.