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.

 

Why are Teeth Extracted

When a patient needs a tooth pulled, there’s nobody better in the Philly area than the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. But why do teeth need to be extracted, anyway? There are a number of possible reasons and we want our patients undergoing extractions to understand why it is in their interest.

Sometimes, teeth are severely infected. In these cases, they would usually undergo a root canal and we provide apicoectomies, or root tip replacements, when an initial root canal fails. However, even this may not be enough for the most stubborn infections, and some patients have a compromised immune system which prevents them from fighting off an infection in time to prevent it from entering the bloodstream. It may also happen that the gums are infected and are unable to keep the teeth stable. These cases require the assistance of a periodontist, or gum disease specialist, but they may not be able to stabilize the teeth. A tooth that has suffered a cracked root would also need to be removed since that injury does not heal.

Sometimes teeth are also removed due to overcrowding. This is often the fate of wisdom teeth. If canines or lateral incisors are impacted, they would usually be exposed so an orthodontic bracket can be glued to them and they can be guided into position, but this may not be practical if there are other alignment issues.

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

 

Dental Emergency Details

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we understand that accidents happen. Knowing what to do in case one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. If you experience some sort of trauma to your mouth for whatever reason, please call your dentist immediately. Meanwhile, in the midst of a dental emergency, utilize these tips to ensure a smooth recovery. 

• For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it between your cheek and gums, or use a tooth preservation product that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance.


• For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area.


• If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress.


• For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between teeth.


•  To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oralsurgerypa.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.