Broken Teeth and How to Solve Them - Preserve Family Dentistry

Cracked or Broken Teeth

Are you currently suffering from broken teeth? No matter how healthy teeth are, they still tend to crack or break at times. Broken teeth can cause a handful of issues, and they also have the potential to be extremely uncomfortable. Whether grinding, trauma, biting, or anything else caused your broken teeth, we’re glad to help you fix them. It’s important to have broken teeth looked at by a dentist in Lincoln, NE as soon as possible.

In our article we’ll answer the following commonly asked questions:

1. What happens if a broken tooth goes untreated?

2. Is a broken tooth a dental emergency?

3. Can broken teeth be fixed?

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What To Do If You Have One or More Broken Teeth

Call our emergency dentist in Lincoln, NE number (402-840-9783) if it’s after business hours, otherwise, call any of our locations.
Using lukewarm water, rinse your mouth and the tooth fragment gently.
If there it’s bleeding at all, apply gentle pressure with a cloth or bite down softly on a gauze pad.
Use ice or a cold compress to minimize swelling.
If it hurts, you can take an over-the-counter medications to help ease the discomfort.

How we treat broken teeth depends largely upon the severity of the break. If possible, we may place the tooth fragment back into your tooth. Be sure to bring the piece with you if you still have it. If a crack or break extends to a tooth’s root, we may need to extract it. In some cases, we can just perform root canal therapy to save the tooth. If we do need to remove your tooth, your dentist near me in Lincoln, NE will run you through the options for replacing a tooth so that you can be aware of the different solutions out there. Click here to learn more about an emergency dentist near me in Lincoln, NE.

Types of Broken Teeth

Our dentist in Lincoln, NE use the phrase “tooth fracture” often. This is because a “tooth fractures” have a large range of severity, and this terminology is a general way to say “broken teeth” without specifying how broken. Some tooth fractures require little to no treatment. Many others require more involved procedures.

Image of dentists in Lincoln, NE, Dr. Kathryn Alderman. Dr, Alderman can help you with broken teeth.

Chipped Teeth

Damaged enamel on the outside of the tooth is the most common cause of chipped teeth. In general, chipped teeth tend to be minor, since the pulp or nerve of the teeth is usually unaffected by them. This means that decay can’t get beneath your tooth’s layers of defense to attack the tooth’s root. For chips, dentists in Lincoln, NE usually can usually repair them with a simple bonding material.

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Craze Lines

Craze lines, otherwise known as surface cracks, are tiny cracks in a tooth’s enamel. Most people have a few craze lines on their teeth but hardly notice them. This is because craze lines don’t typically cause any discomfort or sensitivity, and are not a result of decay. Luckily, craze lines also don’t require treatment of any kind. If you do notice craze lines, don’t worry. You’re not in any danger, and if you simply don’t like the way they look, then our “cosmetic dentist near me” can help you address them.

If you have a toothache, but aren’t precisely sure of the cause, be sure to make an appointment to see your dentist in Lincoln, NE. Learn more about toothache management from our dentists in Lincoln, NE.

Image of a broken tooth. Find a dentist near me in Lincoln, NE at Preserve Family Dentistry to help you. from dentists in Lincoln,NE

Cracked Teeth

Some people develop deeper cracks in their teeth than mere craze lines. If that is the case, be sure to see your dentist in Lincoln, NE immediately. Many times, depending on the break, we can place a filling that will solve the problem and prevent the spread of decay. Be sure to see your dentist frequently to catch signs of a cracked tooth before it gets much worse.

Severely Broken Teeth

Broken teeth usually are not very severe. However, if a tooth breaks significantly, it’s likely to expose the tooth’s root, nerves, and blood supply. When this happens, you’ll experience immediate discomfort, as the nerve of your tooth has come into contact with the air in your mouth. If you have one or more severely broken teeth, you need to make an appointment with your emergency dentist in Lincoln, NE as soon as possible. They’ll probably need to remove your tooth’s root and place a crown over the top to protect your tooth from future problems.

Split Teeth

Often, a tooth’s roots or crown becomes damaged as a result of teeth breaking. If this happens, your tooth will become much more susceptible to infection. Additionally, your tooth will probably hurt a lot. If it isn’t too bad, it’s possible for us to repair split teeth using a crown. If you split your tooth’s root, however, the crown won’t have a solid foundation and will need to be removed.

Frequently Asked Questions with Answers From Our Dentists in Lincoln, NE About Broken Teeth

What happens if a broken tooth goes untreated?

As with many dental issues, over-the-counter medications can help you relieve and manage discomfort, and keep the swelling down. If the discomfort you are experiencing isn’t entirely localized and your face is hurting, you can use an ice pack or cold compress to help. Since there isn’t much you can do on your own about a broken tooth, be sure to call your dentist in Lincoln, NE immediately, as the problem will only worsen without treatment.

Are broken teeth considered a dental emergency?

It depends on the severity of the break. In any case, if a broken tooth exposes the nerves beneath it, it needs to be treated before becoming infected. Exposed nerves are a dental emergency, and you should treat them promptly. Otherwise, broken teeth may not be emergencies, though they should still be treated as quickly as possible by a dentist in Lincoln, NE to avoid more complicated dental work in the future.

Can broken teeth be fixed?