Many people have experienced the unpleasant sensation of biting down, only to realize they have broken a tooth in Oshawa.
Why Can Teeth Break?
Teeth can break if you bite or chew something hard, like popcorn kernels or ice cubes. They can also become damaged due to trauma, for example, if you take a blow to the mouth or fall awkwardly.
Sometimes, a broken tooth has a large cavity that has weakened it. A small hole in your tooth enamel can conceal a larger cavity underneath.
What to Do If You Break a Tooth
The first thing to do is to contact us at Margolian Dentistry. Your tooth will require professional dental care so we can diagnose the problem and provide suitable restorative dentistry in Whitby.
When you contact us, we can provide immediate advice on coping with your broken tooth until you can see us. Below are a few tips to follow.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water to wash away any loose food, bacteria, or tooth fragments.
- If your tooth feels painful, use over-the-counter pain relief, following the instructions carefully on the packaging. Please do not put painkillers directly on the tooth or the gum nearest the tooth. These can burn your gum and will not relieve the pain.
- If you have facial swelling, use an ice pack wrapped in a towel and hold it against your face for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
- If the tooth is bleeding, use a clean piece of gauze and gentle pressure to stop the bleeding. You could also try holding a damp teabag against the tooth. The tannins help to shrink blood vessels. If the bleeding doesn’t stop within 20 minutes, contact us for emergency help and advice.
Emergency Dental Services for Painful Teeth
If your tooth is painful, we can help you. Our dentists can generally provide same-day appointments, and we have a dentist on call outside of normal office hours.
What to Expect When You See Our Dentist?
Once you see our dentist in Ajax, we can gently examine your tooth and recommend a suitable solution to restore it. You will be given a custom treatment plan showing all available options and the costs. Our dentist will explain the treatment plan carefully, ensuring you know exactly how each solution could help you and can make an informed choice.
How Is a Broken Tooth Mended?
The treatment we recommend will depend on the extent of the damage.
Mending Minor Cracks and Damage
Sometimes, a broken tooth can be mended quite easily. A minor crack that only affects your tooth enamel could be smoothed or filled with tooth-coloured composite resin.
Placing an Inlay or Onlay
If the damage is more significant, you might need a larger filling, called an inlay or onlay, to restore the tooth, which can be made from tough, durable, and beautiful porcelain.
Protecting a Damaged Tooth with a Dental Crown
Alternatively, we may suggest covering the tooth entirely. This may be necessary if it has lost much of its original structure. Placing a crown will restore the tooth’s strength, structure and appearance.
Root Canal Therapy
Sometimes, the dental pulp containing the tooth nerve is damaged. This could be the case if the crack has reached the tooth nerve. In this case, you would need root canal therapy to remove the inflamed or infected dental pulp, removing the pain and discomfort.
Afterwards, we would need to protect the tooth with a dental crown.
Have You Cracked a Tooth?
If you have cracked a tooth recently, please contact us. The sooner we can diagnose and mend the tooth, the better the long-term outcome. It could help you avoid a nasty and painful infection in the future.
