You thought it would be fun to reminisce with old friends and get one of those jumbo jawbreakers from the 90’s and unfortunately, it lived up to its name! You can’t say your dentist never warned you to stay away from candy! Now, you’re facing a dental emergency: your tooth is chipped and cracked. What do you do? Moreover, how can your emergency dentist in Ponte Vedra Beach help you restore your smile? At Ponte Vedra Complete Dentistry, we’re equipped with two expert dentists, Dr. Harth and Dr. Townsend, along with our friendly office team to handle any dental emergency—especially chipped or cracked teeth.
Better Understanding Injured Teeth
Of course, dental professionals know that there are different types of dental injuries and different ways to treat them, specifically with cracked or chipped teeth. But, do you? Not all dental injuries require the same remedies. It’s important for you to be able to recognize these differences as well.
Craze Lines
These are minute cracks on the outside of your teeth that only affect the outer layer of your tooth (enamel).
Fractured Cusp
When a piece of your tooth’s chewing surface breaks off. It’s not usually too painful.
Cracked Tooth
When the crack extends from the chewing surface of your tooth down toward the root. If you don’t treat it in the appropriate time frame, it could get much worse and even result in tooth loss.
Split Tooth
If a tooth has become split, it’s usually because it was originally cracked and didn’t receive the appropriate dental care. After being neglected, you can identify two split segments.
Vertical Root Fracture
When a crack starts in the root of the tooth and extends to the chewing surface. These types of cracked teeth hardly show symptoms until the surrounding jawbone and soft tissue become infected.
Ponte Vedra Complete Dentistry Can Help You!
Here are some of the dental procedures we offer at our dental practice. Your dentist at Ponte Vedra Beach will determine which of the following treatments are best for you and the lifestyle you lead.
Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are covers for a tooth created of durable dental porcelain. The veneer is bonded to the front of your tooth, transforming your smile’s chipped appearance. This is a great replacement option if you have minor cracks like craze lines that are noticeable when your smile.
Dental Crowns
If your tooth is cracked and you’re now experiencing pain when you chew, drink, speak, or eat, either of our dentists could recommend a dental crown. A dental crown caps the affected tooth with tooth-colored porcelain. This will give your smile newfound stability and an improved appearance.
Root Canal
If the crack in your tooth has extended to the root of your tooth, you will know it. Your tooth and its surrounding areas will be very tender and in pain. Fortunately, you can get a root canal to treat it. A root canal will remove any dental debris and bacteria from inside the tooth and seal it with a sturdy same-day dental crown.
Dental Implants
If the crack in your tooth exceeds even lower than your gum line, your tooth is unfortunately no longer treatable. At this point, your tooth is past the point of restoration. Instead, you will need to consider tooth replacement options. Dental implants are the best way to replace your natural teeth because they mimic your tooth from root to crown with three biocompatible pieces: titanium implant posts, abutments, and the dental prosthetic of your choice.