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| Breaking,
chipping, or cracking a tooth can be an incredibly painful experience.
Teeth are very sensitive and frequently used for speaking and chewing,
so any severity of damage, no matter how slight or minor can often
lead to intense pain and discomfort. A chipped or broken tooth can
also often cause emotional suffering when it disrupts the natural
appearance of the smile of otherwise normal, undamaged teeth.
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A chipped front tooth is easily repaired with a porcelain or resin
veneer. These materials easily match the natural look of the remaining
teeth, and reinforce the strength of the original tooth. The veneer
is perfectly shaped to conform to the smile of the patient, and
is virtually unrecognizable when compared to other less advanced
tooth replacement options. |
What To Do if a Tooth is Damaged
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| When
a tooth is damaged, steps need to be taken immediately to provide
appropriate care for the tooth. If something has happened to a filling,
or if you damaged a tooth because of chipping, breaking or a fracture,
take some steps until you can see your dentist. If you don't, the
tooth will suffer other dental problems and infection may set in.
You may even end up losing the tooth. . |
| If
your tooth is broken, chipped or fractured in some way, try to see
your dentist within hours Most dentists will give emergency appointments.
If the damage is due to a trauma of some sort, such as a car accident,
you should try to be seen at emergency room right away. Immediately
afterwards, you should see your dentist. Damaged teeth can be repaired
most of the time. Your tooth may need more aggressive treatment,
than they give at the emergency room, such as capping or filling
to be restored to its original condition or even in order to be
saved. |
| If
you find a piece of a broken or chipped tooth after you have had
damage to a tooth, bring the piece or pieces with you when you go
to the dentist. Since he has the required skills and equipment,
many times the dentist can repair the tooth with these broken pieces.
He will usually cement them back together, and that is cheaper and
easier than having to replace the tooth. You don't have to bring
lost fillings if you find them, because the dentist can just as
easily make a new filling for that tooth. |
| If
you must eat, eat only soft foods until you've be seen by your dentist.
Also be sure to chew on the opposite side of the mouth from the
damaged tooth. If you chew on the damaged tooth you will cause further
irritation and perhaps even infection, resulting in further damage
or tooth loss. Also avoid extremely hot or extremely cold food.
Foods that have extreme temperatures cause further pain and can
further irritate the damaged area. |
| If
you follow these common-sense guidelines and take steps to repair
dental damage, you will probably not lose the tooth, and you'll
increase your chances of keeping the damage to a minimum. If you
visit your dentist regularly, and keep your teeth healthy and clean,
you'll also increase your chances of them healing quickly. |
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