Cosmetic dental issues aren’t simply something you’re born with. Many injuries can cause aesthetic defects you are going to want to fix. Often, traumatic dental injury should be fixed both for restorative and cosmetic reasons. A common tooth injury is a fracture. These cracks in the dentin of teeth can vary in depth, placement, and severity, but whatever the case, a fracture is a break. Breaking a tooth can be upsetting, and cosmetically disturbing. When a large enough chunk of tooth falls off, you will probably wonder about treatment. Untreated fractures and breaks can deepen or even cause more severe cosmetic and functional issues. Take one of Dr. Engelberg’s patients – Terri – for an example. Terri required extensive cosmetic dental work after a traumatic dental injury which you can see in the above before photo. Fortunately, her results were terrific, as you can see from this after photo below:
Ignoring Cracked Teeth
Any injury to your tooth causing severe pain should send you right to Dr. Engelberg’s office. If we aren’t available, there are emergency dentists with extended hours in most towns. Early identification of a dental fracture can help you save your tooth from needing a full extraction. It is very important that the crack in your smile not extend into the pulp chamber where your roots are. If dental pulp is exposed to bacterial infestation, swelling will set in which will likely develop into an infection. Death of nerves (AKA pulpal necrosis) can set in. Tooth abscesses are also possible. So it’s best to never ignore a tooth fracture.
Tooth Fracture Fixes
If you do have a fracture, the plan of treatment will depend on the depth and placement of the crack. You may be able to take a “watch carefully” approach. As you continue with your regular six month dental checkups, your dentist can take an extra hard look at the area in question, making sure that the fracture hasn’t deepened. If treatment is necessary, dental bonding may suffice. The composite resin material used for bonding is the same that is used for tooth colored fillings. If the crack is physically distracting, it can be sealed to prevent bacteria, and capped with a crown. Porcelain veneers may even be your best bet in certain cases. As you can see from Terri’s before and after pictures, veneers led to a complete dental transformation.
ABOUT YOUR PALATINE DENTIST:
Dr. Brent Engelberg and his highly-skilled team proudly serve patients and their families from Arlington Heights, IL, and all surrounding communities, including; Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, and the Northern and Northwest Chicago Suburbs. To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at 847-259-8030.
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