Our teeth are strong, but not immune to damage. A sports injury or even biting down on a hard piece of food could potentially damage your smile. When a crack appears, you need treatment to avoid serious issues, such as a decayed or infected tooth. In today’s blog, we’re looking at how our Des Moines, IA, team repairs cracked teeth.
The Dangers of a Cracked Tooth
If you sustain an injury to your smile, let us know. We will examine your smile to make sure you don’t have a fracture, which could be difficult to see with the naked eye alone. A crack could expose the inner dentin or pulp to harmful bacteria. Once bacteria reach the dentin, a cavity forms, leading to discomfort. However, should the bacteria reach the pulp, your tooth’s nerve center, a painful infection could form. Without treatment, such as a root canal, the infection could lead to the loss of your tooth and the spread of infection. Treating a cracked tooth is essential for maintaining a whole and healthy smile.
Inlays and Onlays
For minor cracks on top of the tooth, we may suggest an inlay or onlay. Known as partial crowns, these offer repair for situations that require more than a filling but not necessarily a full crown. The inlays restore the areas between the cusps on top of the tooth, while the inlays actually cover the cusps. Created using ceramic, they will look natural and blend with your smile. If you maintain good oral hygiene, these could last for decades and protect your smile from further decay or infection.
Dental Crowns
A crown is the most common option for treating fractures. The restoration covers the entire visible portion of the tooth and is often made using lifelike materials, such as porcelain or zirconia. If you require a more substantial restoration, for example, if a rear tooth needs repair, we may opt for metal or porcelain-fused-to-metal. We remove a small amount of tooth structure and take impressions of the tooth. We use them to design and fabricate the restoration. We then place the completed crown with a powerful bonding agent, treating the damage. If we use porcelain, zirconia, or porcelain-fused-to-metal, then your restoration will blend with your smile seamlessly. If you have any questions about repairing cracked teeth, or if you recently suffered an injury to your smile, then please contact our team right away. Let’s talk about restoring the health, beauty, and function of your smile.
GATEWAY DENTAL GROUP REPAIRS FRACTURED TEETH
If you have a cracked tooth, then we have a cosmetic solution using our custom restorations. To learn more about restoring smiles in Des Moines, IA, then please give us a call. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (515) 244-9565.