You’ve taken a fall and chipped your tooth. You bit down on a too-crunchy food and cracked a molar. Your gums are a little red and swollen in one area. Most of us are familiar with the initial shock of one of the above. But once that wears off, what do you do? You certainly just can’t go on about your life.

Chips and Breaks

The damage of a chipped or broken tooth can extend beyond what you can actually see. Some kinds of breaks go underneath the gum line and compromise the structure of the entire tooth.

There are several kinds of breaks or cracks that can occur. A split tooth typically happens when a cracked tooth has gone unnoticed or untreated. A fractured cusp is where just the tip of the tooth, the part that makes direct contact when you chew, chips or breaks. A classic cracked tooth involves vertical cracks. Finally, a vertical root fracture presents with cracks coming down vertically from the root, not the tip. These are known to cause infections.

Even if it doesn’t hurt, as is often the case with fractured cusps, it’s necessary to see a dentist as soon as possible.

Can It Be Fixed?

Probably. Dentists have several avenues of treatment for cracked or broken teeth, and will discuss what’s best for you. First is simple bonding, where a composite is molded to cover the chipped area of your tooth. It lasts for years, and chances are, no one will be able to tell anything happened.

On the other hand, crowns are cemented onto your broken tooth, and essentially form a cap over top. It looks like a natural tooth, and makes it so you can keep on chewing. Porcelain veneers are best for damaged, discolored teeth. They are thin, surface-area teeth that are cemented onto your modified, natural tooth structure. Most Hollywood-perfect smiles you see are courtesy of veneers.

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If your crack or break is deep, you may need a root canal. During a root canal, the nerve and pulp of the tooth is removed, and the entire tooth is sealed off like a tomb. The treatment may be completed with a crown.

If extraction is the only way to deal with your tooth, you can have it replaced with a dental implant. A screw is installed into your jawbones and a new tooth is fitted on top of the screw.

Inflamed Gums

Trying to soothe your inflamed gums at home is fine, but you still need to look up Emergency Dentists in the USA. Inflammation can be a sign of infection or periodontal disease. Periodontal disease can compromise your jaw bone and lead to tooth loss. It also increases your chances of suffering a heart attack.

In the end, you’re much better off squashing your worries by seeing a dental health professional right away. The sooner you do, the sooner you’ll be back to chewing, smiling, and just generally living your life.