Our general dentist can provide the treatment that you need when you have a damaged tooth. Teeth can become damaged due to issues like tooth decay, trauma to the face, or habits like teeth grinding. A tooth that has been damaged is more vulnerable to tooth decay and infection.
Here are procedures that our general dentist might recommend for damaged teeth.
This is a non-invasive approach to treating a damaged tooth. The dentist uses a resin that is made up of plastics and glass to rebuild the damaged tooth. Permanent alterations are not made to the patient’s teeth during the process.
The tooth being treated is simply roughened with an etching solution so the composite sticks better to it. The composite is applied to the tooth and molded in layers before being hardened with a curing light.
It takes about 45 minutes to restore a tooth with a composite resin, and the process can be completed during a single trip to the dentist. Composite bonding is typically recommended for mild to moderate damage.
Crowns are recommended when a tooth has been severely damaged. The process typically requires at least two trips to the dentist. During the first, the patient’s teeth are prepared for the crown by removing portions of enamel so the crown fits better. In some cases, the tooth might need to be rebuilt with filling so it can be fitted with a crown.
An impression of the affected tooth is taken once it’s been prepared and sent to a lab where crowns are made. The patient gets a temporary crown to protect their teeth for the time being. When the customized crowns are ready, the temporary ones are removed and replaced during a second appointment.
At times, damage to a tooth might leave its pulp chamber compromised. The pulp chamber houses soft tissues like nerves and blood vessels. These tissues being exposed to the bacteria in the mouth makes them vulnerable to infection.
A root canal is performed when the damage to a tooth leaves these soft tissues exposed. The process is completed during a single trip to the dentist and involves removing these soft tissues, applying medication, and sealing the tooth. A crown is typically used to protect the tooth following a root canal. While root canals have a bad reputation as a painful procedure, local anesthetics are administered beforehand, and patients rarely feel any pain during the treatment.
At times, a tooth might be too damaged to be repaired. If this is the case, the dentist might recommend extracting the tooth and replacing it with an oral prosthetic like an implant. Extractions are typically used as the last resort when treating damaged teeth.
A damaged tooth will only get worse the longer you wait for treatment. Call or visit our Visalia clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.
Request an appointment here: https://www.dentistofvisalia.com or call Visalia Care Dental at (559) 975-1213 for an appointment in our Visalia office.
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