When it comes to imagining emergency dental care, very few people consider that something as seemingly benign as a crack or chip should warrant a same-day appointment.However, even if such an injury does not hurt, it needs to be assessed quickly by a dental team; cracks and chips can spread quickly, allowing bacteria and plaque to infiltrate the pulp of the tooth, leading to an infection or further decay.
Which then leads to the question, how exactly does a dentist in Wagga Wagga restore a chipped or cracked tooth so that bacteria can never get to the pulp?
What is a dental crack or chip?
More common in children, dental chips and cracks typically occur when a sudden, blunt force impacts the tooth, causing part of it to break off completely (chip) or to crack on the outer part of the enamel.
And as mentioned earlier, visually these can look fairly minimal, but for comparison, imagine a crack in a wall; with a bit of force, parts of the wall can begin to crumble away or the crack may spread. As you are using your teeth every day to bite into and chew food, it is reasonable to assume that they will go through a fair bit of pressure, hence why you should see a dentist near Wagga Wagga as soon as you notice a chip beginning to form.
How is it repaired?
If you have chipped your tooth, depending on the depth of the chip, your dentist from Wagga Wagga may choose to repair it with either a porcelain coloured filling or a crown.
The process will be quite similar to a regular filling, except rather than scraping decay away, your dental team will be creating a roughened edge to attach the filling or crown to. In relation to a crack on the enamel, your team will usually choose to fill the crack with an application of a composite resin; a process known as bonding. This will restore strength to the damaged tooth, conceal the crack and help with the aesthetics of your smile.
Extreme cases
If you have recently been in a serious accident, it is likely that your teeth will have been damaged and cracked. And to this end, you will need to see a dental team about having them repaired. Unlike the regular type of restoration mentioned previously, your team may decide to repair the damaged tooth or teeth with a set of endodontic fillings, otherwise known as root canals.
This will only be recommended if the damage to the tooth has caused the pulp to become exposed, leaving it vulnerable to bacteria. Cleaning out the pulp and filling it with sterilised packing material, a root canal will help to preserve a damaged tooth, allowing you to retain the aesthetic advantages without requiring a denture or bridge. Like the regular solutions for fixing cracks, a root canal will be topped off with either a porcelain filling or crown to restore the strength to the damaged tooth.
DISCLAIMER
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
