What should you do when you chip or crack a tooth? These are common dental emergencies, and should be addressed as soon as possible. In today’s blog, we’re going to look at how your El Paso, TX, dentists repair damaged smiles with lifelike cosmetic treatments and custom-made dental restorations. In addition, we’ll discuss what your immediate response should be to common emergency situations.
Responding to Your Emergency
When you damage a tooth, please let us know. We can see you quickly, whether on weekends or after hours. Simply call our North Zaragoza or Dyer Street location to schedule an appointment. In the meantime, use a cold compress against the side of your face to reduce any swelling. Cloth or gauze can stem bleeding, and you can take a pain reliever to ease discomfort. If you can recover any pieces of your tooth, place them in a container and bring them with you. If this isn’t possible, we can still repair your tooth. Remember, delaying treatment of a damaged tooth means the sensitive inner layers of dentin are exposed to bacteria, increasing the risk of cavities and infection!
Dental Bonding
Often, we repair minor cracks or chips using dental bonding. We begin by cleaning the tooth and prepping the material we use. Composite resin is a strong material that can be shaded to match the color of your tooth. We apply the material to the damaged area in several layers, sculpting the tooth as we cure the composite resin under a light. Finally, we polish the tooth for a more natural appearance. The entire procedure only takes one visit to complete, and ensures you leave with a repaired and beautiful looking tooth.
Dental Fillings
If you’ve waited months to see us and the minor damage has enabled a cavity to form, then our team may use a filling to treat the area. We remove the decay and then clean the tooth before applying the same composite resin we use in our dental bonding procedures. We shape the tooth and sculpt the material under a light once more. After we cure the tooth, we will polish it for an esthetically-pleasing appearance. Again, only one visit will be needed, and the treatment protects your tooth from worsening decay or infection!
Dental Crowns
What if the damage to your tooth is severe? For major cracks or breakage, we may instead place a crown. Created from a variety of lifelike materials, such as ceramic, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or zirconia, your crown covers the visible portion of the tooth. We custom-make them to provide an accurate fit and to make sure they blend with your smile.
TALK TO SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO REPAIRING YOUR SMILE
At Sunny Smiles in El Paso, TX, our team wants to help you maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. If you have questions about our dental restorations, or if you want to set up an appointment, you can reach our East El Paso dental practice on 10039 Dyer St., at 915-859-7000!