When a Tooth Cracks

Breaking a tooth is scary. While there’s no way to be completely prepared for when it happens, we at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania want people to know that teeth often can be saved, and that getting treatment quickly increases their chance of successful treatment. In this blog post, we discuss what to do immediately after discovering a broken tooth and what treatments are likely.

The molars are the likeliest teeth to break. They are the ones that can normally withstand the force of the patient’s bite, although they may break against something extremely hard. When other teeth are used for chewing, they are much likelier to break or be pushed sideways. If a patient chips or cracks a tooth, they should rinse their mouth with salt water and cover the broken crown with dental wax if they have any on hand, or sugarless gum if they don’t.

A small chip may be repairable with bonding. For this procedure, a dentist would apply and contour an adhesive material onto the tooth. But if the tooth is significantly broken, a dentist may need to reshape it in preparation for an entire new crown. The crown would be custom-made to fit the patient’s mouth and cemented over the reshaped natural enamel, which would be left in place to cover the dental pulp. If an x-ray reveals that the tooth is cracked at the root, it will need to be removed. We’ll work with a patient to determine whether an implant or a partial denture would make a better replacement.

Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.

 

New Patients

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we are always looking to grow our family. To take advantage of all the services we offer, we want to give you a better idea of what your first visit with one of our doctors will look like.

First time patients will go through consultation to discuss the diagnosis and treatment options for your surgery. We ask that patients bring us some form of ID, a copy of their insurance x-rays (if applicable), surgical referral slip, and a list of medications you are taking. Any new patients under the age of 18 need a parent or legal guardian present.

Our doctors advise patients that surgery will most likely be performed on the second visit after an evaluation of your medical history and the treatment necessary.

If you have any questions about your first visit, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oralsurgery.pa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.

Avoiding Dry Sockets

We’re proud to say that dry sockets are rare at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. This complication following a tooth extraction is extremely unpleasant, but it is also avoidable in most cases if the patient follows simple instructions. Although only about 2-5% of people who get extractions suffer from dry sockets, we wanted our patients to better understand them so that if they get an extraction, they won’t be hearing their post-operative instructions for the first time.

A simple extraction is one in which the tooth is rocked until it can be lifted out with forceps. Complex extractions involve gum incisions and may require the tooth to be sectioned. A dry socket can result from either, though it is more commonly from the latter. Usually, blood clots would close off the empty socket, protecting it from irritating debris and pathogens, but sometimes the blood may fail to clot or the scab may come loose. If this happens, the socket will dry out painfully and be at risk for infection.

Three of the biggest risk factors for dry sockets are smoking, birth control pills, and the use of straws. The estrogen in pills can prevent blood from clotting, while smoking can dissolve the clot and suction can pull it loose. We also advise patients to avoid brushing near the extraction site on the first day after the procedure and to avoid solid foods. The socket may be cleaned with a salt water rinse.

Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.