Top 6 Treatment Options For Cracked Or Chipped Teeth

Are you suffering from a cracked or chipped tooth? Whether it’s because of an injury, wear and tear, or something else, we understand that this can be very stressful. The good news is that several treatment options are available to help you restore your smile and get back to feeling like yourself! In this blog post, we’ll discuss the different methods for addressing cracked or chipped teeth so that you can decide which option is right for you.

What Are The Common Treatment Options For Cracked Or Chipped Teeth?

The best dentists in Winchester have come up with the six most common treatment options used for chipped or cracked teeth.

1. Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a quick and easy treatment that can repair minor chips and cracks in teeth. It involves applying a tooth-colored resin material to your damaged tooth, which is then hardened with a special light. This treatment method is relatively inexpensive and non-invasive, making it an attractive option for many patients.

2. Veneers

Dental Veneers are custom-made porcelain shells that fit over your teeth’ front surface to hide imperfections like chips and cracks. They are usually made from thin layers of porcelain, which bond directly onto the front surface of your tooth in order to restore its natural shape and color. Veneers look very natural and provide excellent protection against further damage to the affected tooth.

3. Dental Crowns

Crowns are one of the most common ways to repair cracked or chipped teeth because they provide strong protection against further damage while restoring the appearance of your smile. Crowns are made from porcelain or metal, depending on your needs. They cover the entire visible part of your damaged tooth to protect it from any additional damage while blending in seamlessly with your other teeth.

4. Dental Fillings

Fillings involve placing a filling material into a decayed or damaged area in order to seal off any cracks or chips that may have occurred due to decay or trauma. This treatment helps prevent further decay while restoring functionality and strength to the affected areas of your mouth. Fillings can be made from various materials such as composite resin, gold, amalgam (silver), etc., depending on what works best for each individual case.

5. Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is often used when extensive damage due to cracking or chipping reaches below the gum line into the root canal system. During this procedure, the infected root canal tissue is removed before being replaced by a crown or filling material to restore strength and functionality back into your mouth while sealing off any remaining infection caused by trauma or decay.

6. Dental Implants

In cases where extensive damage due to cracking/chipping cannot be treated using any other methods mentioned above, then dental implants may be recommended as an alternative solution. This type of treatment involves surgically placing an artificial titanium post into your jawbone, which acts as an anchor for an artificial “tooth” made from either porcelain, ceramic, or acrylic materials. Dental implants offer long-lasting results when properly cared for, often lasting 15 years or more.

Final Thoughts

Understanding what treatments are available for cracked or chipped teeth can help ensure which option suits your needs the best! From simple bonding procedures to complex root canal therapies, there’s always something available out there that will help bring back that smile, no matter how extensive (or minor) your dental emergency might be! So don’t hesitate; if you have recently experienced an injury involving one of your teeth, consult a dentist nearby to be aware of which treatment option to choose.

Procedures That Cosmetic Dentists And Prosthodontists Do Often

Since many people don’t know what a “prosthodontist” is and have only a vague idea of what a “cosmetic dentist” does, it’s not surprising that there is confusion about this topic. Even though there are some similarities between these two types of work, there are also many ways in which they are very different.

What A Prosthodontist Needs To Know About Education And Credentials?

Prosthodontists are different from cosmetic dentists because they have different qualifications and education than their counterparts in cosmetic dentistry. After taking a few courses on the different cosmetic dentistry treatments, a regular dentist may be able to do cosmetic dentistry.

Suppose a dentist is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). In that case, they have access to continuing education and training for cosmetic procedures and are knowledgeable in these areas.

On the other hand, a prosthodontist is a specialist who is approved by the American Dentistry Association (ADA). To become a prosthodontist, you must finish dental school and train for three to four years in an ADA-approved program. They have become a leader in the field of restorative dentistry, which includes procedures related to prosthodontics and those related to aesthetic dentistry.

Implants, crowns, and veneers are all examples of these kinds of procedures. On the other hand, prosthodontists are trained to deal with the most complicated dental problems.

Like a prosthodontist, a cosmetic dentist usually doesn’t have to lead teams of other dental professionals to ensure that treatment is coordinated. Another way a prosthodontist differs from a cosmetic dentist is that they can fix broken teeth. A prosthodontist could be the best choice for a patient’s main dentist if they have a lot of different dental needs.

Procedures That Prosthodontists And Cosmetic Dentists Do Often

Prosthodontists and cosmetic dentists do some procedures the same way, but either type rarely does others. You can see a list of the five most common things that dental professionals do often:

Teeth Whitening

Since their main job is to fix broken teeth, prosthodontists don’t usually do whitening procedures. Instead, cosmetic dentists do these kinds of things. Teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure that makes your teeth a few shades lighter to make them look better. It is a great alternative to invasive procedures that might make your smile look “better.”

Dental implants

Prosthodontists are the people who can fit and place implants. Prosthodontists have the specialized knowledge to help patients through this restoration process, which can take up to six months. Some cosmetic dentists can also treat dental implants, but prosthodontists can also do this.

Dental Veneers

A special glue can stick porcelain veneers to the front surface of a person’s teeth to make them look better. Both prosthodontists and cosmetic dentists often perform this procedure on their patients. Prosthodontists will better understand how dental laboratories work and how veneers can be used to improve both the look and the function of teeth.

There Are Crowns And Bridges As Well

Crowns are caps that are cemented over broken teeth to keep them from falling out and to make them look better. A bridge is a dental fix that fills in the space left by missing teeth to strengthen the bite. Most of the time, prosthodontists and cosmetic dentists are the ones who do both of these procedures.

Problems With The Temporomandibular Joint

The temporomandibular joint is the connection between the skull’s jaw and the temporal bones, which is right in front of the ears. Temporomandibular disorders are problems with the jaw or the muscles moving the jaw. These problems can be caused by clenching or grinding one’s teeth, a jaw injury, arthritis in the joint, stress, or problems with the jaw.

Even though this is not a complete list, we hope it gives you a good idea of how prosthodontists and cosmetic dentists are different and the same. In a nutshell, prosthodontists are dentists who focus on aesthetics and have had a lot of professional training in the many ways to fix teeth. You can visit our dental clinic for the best cosmetic dentist and prosthodontist in your locality.

Tooth Extraction: Basic Guide & Recovery

Tooth extraction or exodontia is a fairly common procedure and most of us have to get at least one tooth pulled out at some point in our lives. However, the phobias and paranoias associated with the procedure are endless and justifiably so. Let us take a look at this article which provides a step-by-step analysis of the entire process and try to rid ourselves of the anxiety.

Reasons for Tooth Extraction

There are a wide array of reasons as to why your tooth needs to be pulled out. One of the main reasons could be a crowded mouth and removal of teeth could lead to perfect alignment. Serious dental infection is also one of the leading causes of tooth removal. Your dentist can also recommend a tooth extraction surgery if you are suffering from periodontal disease. Now that we know the most common reasons let us delve deeper into the basics of the tooth extraction procedure.

Sedation Dentistry

Numbing the site of the tooth extraction is done even before the tugging and pulling out of your tooth starts. The location of the tooth determines if you will receive an intravenous anesthetic or a general neuroleptic. In case you are given the local anesthetic or the injection, then you might be instructed to not eat or drink anything eight hours before the procedure. To avoid any serious complications we would recommend you to provide your entire medical and dental history to your dentist and also specify any medication you are under. Our team of dentists will discuss the options with you and help you select the best sedative dentistry service for your case. Put your mind at ease and you are all set to begin the procedure.

The Extraction Process

Once you have been sedated and your gum tissue is adequately numb, our Dentist in Winchester and the team will attempt to loosen the teeth. When it is sufficiently loose from the ligaments and the jawbone, our team of dentists will perform the extraction using forceps. These are simple extractions and they are generally smooth and hassle-free. Surgical extractions, on the other hand, could be a bit complicated. If the tooth is impacted then the dentist can solve the issue easily with small incisions. You are only supposed to feel pressure throughout the entire procedure. In case of any pain or discomfort let your dentist know. In such cases, your sedative could be tweaked to numb the area further.

Steps to Hasten the Recovery

The recovery process could take anywhere from two to three days to a week. If the pain persists you are advised to contact your dentist immediately and request painkillers.

Gently biting the gauze pad:

Once the procedure is complete, your dentist will place a sterilized gauze pad to prevent bleeding and preserve the blood clot which has been formed. You are supposed to firmly but gently bite it and change it once it is completely covered in blood. Keep it for as long as your dentist advises you to do so. Oftentimes the edges of the gum will be closed up with self-dissolving stitches which will fasten the recovery process and prevent bacteria from entering your bloodstream. Avoid rinsing your mouth for the next 24 hours to avoid conditions leading to a dry socket.

Cold Compressions:

The application of ice packs can minimize the swelling and lead to a faster healing process. Using cold compresses for ten to twenty minutes has been seen to reduce pain.

Eat soft food:

Beverages and edibles of jelly-like consistency will be your best friend during the recovery process. Ingest soft food like yogurt, pudding, or even soup till the pain subsides and you can again chew properly.

Additionally, avoid smoking and give a lot of rest to your body for the next two days. Occasionally rinse your mouth with saline water after 24 hours of the extraction procedure. If you have any further questions related to extraction then consult a dentist near you immediately. And if you are looking for a dentist in Winchester, VA then please do not hesitate to contact us for a consultation.