You’ve broken a tooth, now what? Can a dentist fix a broken tooth? Instead of living with a chipped tooth, which can potentially lead to decay or possibly infection, you should see a dental professional. With the right treatments, your tooth can be returned to full function and health. Enjoy a whole tooth again with our cosmetic and restorative procedures.
Common Questions About Repairing Broken Teeth
Question: What should I do when I chip a tooth?
Answer: You should attempt to find any missing pieces of your tooth and bring them to the office with you. If this is impossible, that’s okay. You may need to apply a piece of gauze to control bleeding or place a cold compress on the side of the face to reduce swelling. Come to the office as soon as possible.
Question: Will dental bonding repair the tooth?
Answer: In many cases, dental bonding offers a one-visit solution to chipped teeth. First, we will place several layers of the composite resin. This material is designed to mimic the appearance of surrounding tooth structure. Once applied, we will cure the resin with a light. The tooth will then be sculpted and polished. The finished product is a completely restored tooth.
Question: If the damage is severe, will I need a dental crown?
Answer: In situations where the teeth are severely damaged, we may instead opt to place a dental crown. We will prepare the tooth and take impressions. Using the impressions, a dental crown will be designed and fabricated. Once complete, we will place the crown using a powerful bonding agent.
Question: What happens if I don’t repair my tooth?
Answer: Without repair, some chips can expose sensitive inner tooth structure, such as dentin, to bacteria. The result can be a cavity and eventually, a potential infection.
ABOUT YOUR ASTORIA DENTIST
Our Astoria, NY dentist office accepts most major insurance plans. To find out if we accept yours, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, contact us at (718) 728-8328. We welcome patients living in and around Queens, Astoria, NYC, upstate New York, and New Jersey.
