What happens when you chip or break a tooth? Without treatment, this could lead to cavities, infection, and even the risk of a missing tooth. But we can help treat your dental emergencies! In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about treating broken teeth with urgent care dentistry.
The Causes and Risks of Broken Teeth
You could break a tooth in a sports injury, accident, or even by biting down on a particularly hard piece of food, such as popcorn kernels or bit of ice. When your tooth is damaged, you need treatment right away. The breakage, even if it is only a minor chip, could expose your sensitive inner structure to harmful oral bacteria, which leads to the onset of tooth decay or even dental infection. You not only experience increased discomfort, but you risk the eventual loss of a tooth due to infection! You should call us right away. If you call during our normal business hours, we will try to schedule a same-day appointment. If we are closed, still call and leave a message. We will reach out to you with possible treatment times.
How to Respond
You can take action to help limit the risk of discomfort until we can see you for treatment. First, try to recover any pieces of your tooth. If you can, bring them with you in a sealed container. If not, don’t worry, we can still repair your tooth. You should rinse with warm water and then use cloth or gauze to stem any bleeding. A cold compress or ice pack to the side of your face can help control facial swelling. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever as well.
Treating Your Damaged Tooth
We will examine your smile to assess the extent of your injury. For more minor chips, we could offer treatment in one sitting with dental bonding, using the same lifelike composite resin we employ as part of our tooth-colored dental fillings. If you have more substantial breakage or fractures, we could instead place a dental crown, one custom-made to ensure a proper fit, a balanced bite, and natural-looking appearance. We can also discuss creating custom mouthguards to limit the risk of injuries down the road.
If you have any questions about how we help smiles with urgent care dentistry, or if you have a dental injury that needs immediate attention, then contact our office today! We look forward to helping you avoid major oral health complications.
Learn More About Urgent Care Dentistry
Dr. Browne and his team in Prairie Village, KS, want to address your dental emergencies and offer lifelike repair. When you have a cracked or chipped tooth, then reach out to our team today by calling 913-901-8585 to start the process!
