Typically, broken teeth are fixed with fillings or crowns. If damage to the tooth is significant, the tooth may need to be extracted and replaced with a dental implant. Fortunately, dental implants are safe, nearly permanent and attractive solution to broken or missing teeth.
Read on to discover when you may want to replace a broken tooth with dental implants.
Repair vs. dental implants
Our teeth can stand up to a lot of wear and tear, but they can be damaged, just like any other bone. Except for an injury, broken teeth typically occur when the tooth has significant decay and as a result, is weakened.
Broken teeth commonly result from trauma to the face or mouth, grinding, poor dental health, biting down on something hard or using your teeth as “tools,” such as opening a bottle or can with your teeth.
If your tooth is merely chipped or cracked, a filling, crown, bonding and even veneers may solve the problem. Severe damage, on the other hand, may require extraction of the tooth.
Damaged teeth can become infected, especially if the crack or break is deep enough to allow bacteria to enter. The dental pulp becomes inflamed, and the infection can spread to other areas of the mouth such as the gum or cheek.
When a tooth breaks off at the gum, it usually requires extraction. The visible part of the tooth is gone, but the root still remains. Since the broken root is prone to infection, and it’s nearly impossible to repair, extracting the root and replacing it with an implant is often the healthiest solution.
If you have severe gum disease, extraction is a standard treatment option. Periodontal disease can damage your gums and cause your teeth to loosen. Dr. Mike may recommend removing the affected teeth, fixing the periodontal disease and using dental implants to replace any missing teeth.
Finally, you may need to extract a tooth when other dental options have failed. Sometimes patients’ bonding or crowns do not successfully repair the broken tooth. The crown may fall off because the tooth structure cannot support it. In that event, dental implants provide a nearly permanent and natural-looking replacement.
The dental implant process
When you schedule an appointment with Dr. Mike, he will review your dental records and overall oral and physical health. Some patients are immediately eligible for dental implants, while others may need to rebuild jaw bone via a bone graft in order to support the dental implant. After your examination, Dr. Mike will discuss your options and develop a treatment plan to regain a healthy smile.
For more information about dental implants, schedule a consultation with Dr. Mike at the Cleveland Implant Institute today.