Restore Your Smile with Treatment for Tooth Fractures
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June 26, 2017
Tooth fractures can occur at any time. Whether caused by an unexpected accident or a result of repeated stress on the teeth, tooth fractures can put the teeth at risk of further damage and leave the smile looking less than perfect. At North Pier Dental Associates, we offer the latest dental procedures to treat tooth fractures and restore the smile. To find out which treatment for tooth fractures is right for you, contact our Chicago, IL practice today.
Causes of Tooth Fractures
Tooth fractures may stem from any number of causes. Some of the most common causes of tooth fractures include:
- Accidents or injuries, like falling or getting hit in the mouth
- Clenching or grinding the teeth
- Chewing on hard items, like pen caps or the fingernails
- Eating hard foods, like hard candy, ice, and nuts
- Using the teeth as tools, like to open packages
- Large fillings, which leave the tooth structure weakened
Treatments for Tooth Fractures
Regardless of the cause of a tooth fracture, treatments are available to restore damaged teeth and enhance the smile. Some popular treatments include:
Dental bonding: Dental bonding may be used to restore teeth with minor fractures, small chips, or aesthetic flaws. With dental bonding treatment, a soft composite resin is applied and shaped directly on the teeth. Once the desired shape and appearance is achieved, the resin is hardened and polished, effectively repairing dental damage and improving the overall appearance of treated teeth.
Porcelain veneers: Porcelain veneers are another treatment option for minor fractures or chips. Porcelain veneers are custom-made, thin shells that fit over the front surface of the teeth to mask flaws and restore the smile.
Dental crowns: Dental fractures too severe for treatment with dental bonding or veneers may benefit from dental crowns. Dental crowns are tooth-shaped restorations used to repair and strengthen damaged teeth.
Onlays: Onlays, also called “partial crowns,” are used to cover and repair damaged portions of the teeth. Onlays help restore the teeth while preserving as much of the natural tooth as possible.
Tooth extraction: In some cases, a fractured tooth may be too damaged to restore with one of the above treatments and will require extraction. After extraction, a tooth may be replaced with treatments such as dental bridges or dental implants.
Preventing Tooth Fractures
It may not be possible to prevent all tooth fractures, like those caused by a sudden accident, but there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk, including:
- Don't use the teeth as tools
- Wear a mouth guard while playing sports
- Don't bite hard foods or chew on hard items
- See your dentist for regular checkups to catch any signs of damage early and while most easily treated
Which Treatments Are Right for You?
If you suffer from dental fractures or other oral health issues, treatment from Dr. Couvelis can help. To find out which treatments are right for you, request an appointment today.
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