A broken tooth is fractured or cracked. Some cracks are harmless but may eventually lead to a break or split in the tooth. Fractures may affect the enamel, dentin, pulp, or all three layers of the tooth, depending on the severity of the crack. There are various options available for treatment for a broken tooth, but dental bridges may be an option for severe fractures.
How dental bridges help patients with broken teeth
Broken teeth occur for various reasons, including eating hard foods or sports-related injuries. Fracturing a tooth can seriously impact a person's oral health, and dentists may use bridges as a solution.
The hazards of a broken tooth
A broken tooth can cause severe damage to the structure of the tooth. If a break damages the root or nerves of a patient's teeth, the dentist may suggest extracting the tooth. In a severe break, individuals generally feel a lot of pain. The area becomes inflamed, and patients may be unable to eat. A broken tooth can lead to an infection or tooth abscess without treatment.
A bacterial infection causes severe and persistent aching that radiates through the jawbone. It can cause fevers, swelling of the face and sensitivity to pressure and temperature. The infection occurs when bacteria enter the dental pulp through the fracture. As bacteria enter, it spreads through the tooth into the root. To prevent infection, dentists may extract a broken tooth.
The dental bridge solution
In some cases, dentists may choose to replace a broken tooth. In severe breaks, the tooth may be too damaged to repair. Dental bridges help restore missing teeth and to restore function to the mouth. Dental bridges fill the gap between missing teeth with artificial teeth.
Bridges typically use the patient's teeth on either side of the false tooth to support it. There are two components to a dental bridge. One is the abutment teeth, where the dentist places two crowns on either side of the missing tooth to support the bridge. The pontic is the false tooth that attaches to the other teeth. The pontic replaces the broken tooth.
During the procedure, the dentist prepares the patient's abutment teeth. If using crowns, the dental care provider reshapes the teeth by removing part of the enamel and dentin to apply crowns. Next, the dentist takes an impression of the teeth to create the bridge and crowns. Before the final bridge arrives, patients may have a temporary bridge. The last step of the procedure involves placing a permanent bridge.
Having a dental bridge restores a patient's smile and allows the patient to chew and speak like normal. When patients lose a broken tooth, it can cause the teeth around it to shift. With a dental bridge, the remaining teeth remain in place.
Conclusion
Missing a tooth can affect how a patient chews and speaks, as well as overall oral health. If patients need to remove a broken tooth, a dental bridge can fill the gap and restore the function of the patient's bite.
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