A broken tooth can happen to anyone–here’s the story of how it happened to me (I’ve finally gotten over the embarrassment of telling it)
I took my kids to the swimming pool to cool off on a hot Spring day. My youngest is trying to learn to dive, so I was trying to show him the “proper” technique when I lost my footing and slipped on the diving board; I landed face first on the hard, gritty board. I wasn’t knocked out, but I was stunned–especially when I moved my tongue around my mouth and felt something…missing. Also, swishing around my mouth, I noticed that familiar copper taste we all dread.
Under further examination in the locker room mirror, I realized that I had chipped my left front tooth. Not badly, mind you, but it was certainly noticeable (and pretty darned painful, too)!
Luckily for me, I knew exactly where to go for Cumming Restorative Dentistry: Midway Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.
Figure Out the Status of Your Tooth
If you find yourself in a similar situation to mine, the first thing you should do is assess what has happened to your tooth (or teeth). A tooth can break in a number of ways, and to varying degrees of severity. Here are the tell-tale signs of each type of injury.
If Your Tooth Is Loose
Just like your brain, your teeth can be concussed. Tooth concussions, also known as loose teeth, often occur due to an injury to the mouth. It nearly always involves some bleeding and at least a mild or moderate pain.
You can tell if this is your condition, because your tooth will still be intact (despite its looseness). Even though it’s the least serious of the injuries we’ll discuss here, you should still get yourself to a Cumming Dentistry professional as soon as possible.
If Your Tooth Is Broken
A broken tooth is just what it sounds like: a substantial piece of tooth that has been knocked away, leaving exposed pulp and roots. This was my situation, and I’ll tell you that the pain was pretty severe (it was pretty difficult to even think straight, honestly).
While my injury probably wouldn’t qualify as an extreme medical emergency, a bad enough tooth break can cause someone to go into shock and cause serious dental problems. You’ll likely need the best professionals that the Cumming Restorative Dentistry community has to offer. Even if you only need a Cumming chipped tooth repair specialist, you still need to act quickly to prevent more sever long-term dental injuries.
If Your Tooth Has Been Knocked Out
Dental avulsion is the medical name for a tooth that has been completely knocked out. It will also likely cause the most bleeding out of the injuries we’re discussing here. Just like other wounds, you should apply moderate pressure to the affected area to staunch the bleeding that is occurring.
If bleeding has not stopped within a half hour or so, it may indicate that you’ve got a serious dental emergency on your hands (or at the very least, that you may have a clotting problem).
If you can locate your tooth, you should place it in a glass of milk (or water, or even saliva if no milk or water is available). This will help preserve the tooth until you can make it to a Cumming chipped tooth repair professional.
Visiting the Dentist: What Can You Expect?
When you visit the dentist, they’ll likely take x-rays to examine the affected area. From these x-rays, they’ll determine how severe your injury is; in most instances, they should be able to save the tooth, but every situation is different.
In the event your natural tooth can be saved, the dentist will perform the necessary procedures to do so. This might include splinting the broken tooth to stabilize it during the healing process. For dental avulsions, or irreparable teeth, there are a number of options. Your dentist will talk you through replacement options, which include implants, partial dentures, bridges, and crowns.
Regardless, you can likely expect at least a few follow-up dental visits to ensure the long-term stability of your tooth or replacements.
Finding the Right Restorative Dentist
Georgia residents who are seeking quality Cumming chipped tooth repair certainly have their fair share of options, but there’s one that stands head and shoulders above the rest: Midway Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.
Contact our Cumming Dentistry office Midway Family and Cosmetic Dentistry today for repairing your chipped tooth. If you live in Cumming, Alpharetta, Forsyth, or even the greater Atlanta area, Midway Family and Cosmetic Dentistry can provide you the best chipped tooth repair.
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