Sustaining a tooth injury has the potential to create different types of cracks in your tooth.
Since fractured teeth can lead to tooth loss, you shouldn’t delay getting treatment from your dentist. How do you know if you have a cracked tooth and how can you treat it?

How to Tell If Your Tooth Is Cracked

A cracked tooth may not be obvious even if you do have an accident that affects your smile.

However, the pain may manifest itself through tooth sensitivity or pain when chewing or biting your food. For others, a cracked tooth may be asymptomatic depending on the location and severity of the crack.

There are numerous diagnostic methods your dentist may use to tell if you have a cracked
tooth, including an oral exam or a radiograph [1]. Even if you’re not aware of a tooth injury, your dentist may be able to tell if you have a cracked tooth during your regular dental exam as well.

How to Treat a Fractured Tooth

Treatment for your cracked tooth will depend on the location of the crack and how severe it is.

For instance, you may have fractured the biting surface of your tooth, which typically doesn’t cause damage to the inside of the tooth where nerve tissue lies. However, your dentist may still need to place a filling or a crown over the tooth to keep it safe from bacteria and decay and prevent future damage [2].

If the crack extends below the gumline and all the way to the tooth’s root, it’s likely that you’ll need root canal therapy to save your tooth and stop the crack from spreading even more. If you have a split tooth that completely separates the tooth into two or more pieces, an extraction may be your only treatment option.

If you’ve just recently cracked a tooth and have a piece that may have separated from the
intact tooth, be sure to save the tooth fragment in a container with saliva or milk and see your dentist as soon as possible [3].

Preventing Damage to Your Smile

Preventing cracked teeth is as easy as not misusing your smile for things like cracking nuts, chewing on ice, or opening packages. Cracked teeth can also be caused by teeth grinding, so if you wake up with headaches, an aching jaw, or sore teeth, it’s time to see your dentist.

Of course, accidents do happen and can cause tooth fractures that negatively impact your smile. Regardless of what’s caused your cracked tooth, getting prompt treatment from your dentist can help restore your tooth and prevent the need for additional treatment.

While having a cracked tooth isn’t the end of the world, it will require professional treatment from your dentist. If you’ve experienced a recent tooth injury or have an old injury that’s causing you discomfort, contact your dentist for an evaluation as soon as possible!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3467890/
2. https://www.aae.org/patients/dental-symptoms/cracked-teeth/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4590084/

The post Detecting and Treating a Cracked Tooth appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Before you can receive a dental implant, you’ll need to have a consultation with your
professional dentist. During this meeting, your dentist will take x-rays to determine the exact
position of your missing tooth as well as examine the bone density of your jaw.

Only people who have adequate bone in their jaw are candidates for dental implants; however,
you may qualify for a bone graft to help build up your jaw bone to receive the implant.

Your dentist will also examine your oral health. Proper oral health and hygiene is essential for
the healing and longevity of a dental implant. People who smoke or have poor oral health may
not qualify for the procedure.

Next: Implanting the Post

If your dentist has found that you’re a candidate for dental implants and has thoroughly
discussed the procedure with you, your next step will be to have the titanium post—the
foundation for your dental implant—inserted by an oral surgeon.

Thanks to digital x-rays, your oral surgeon knows precisely where to place your dental implant
to maximize the chances of success for your restoration. Implanting the post is a surgical
procedure, and it’s important to be sure about dental implants before you take this step. Once
the post is implanted and healed, it’s very difficult if not impossible in certain cases to remove.

Then: Healing Time

The titanium post that constitutes the support for your future dental crown will need to heal
for a period of approximately 4-6 weeks to ensure it’s strong enough to support the dental
crown. Healing time may vary from person to person and will depend on your unique oral
health and immune system.

In the meantime, you may receive a temporary dental crown from your dentist to hold the
place of the future dental crown. Be sure to follow your surgeon’s instructions for healing and
follow up with your dentist as needed.

Last: Getting Your Crown

Your dental crown is specifically made to fit your smile and to match your existing teeth. It’s
sturdy, functional, and with the right care, has the potential to last up to fifteen years. This is
the final restoration to make your dental implant come to life!

The placing of the crown completes your dental implant—you can now enjoy your beautiful
new smile for years to come, with the right care, of course!

If you’re considering dental implants, schedule a consultation with your dentist to first
determine your candidacy. Dental implants are excellent restorations for patients with missing
teeth, so don’t hesitate to discuss your dental implant options with your dentist today!

The post Ask the Dentist: How Do Dental Implants Work? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

If you’ve been considering getting your smile treated before the New Year officially hits, you’ve
still got time! Here are the top dental treatments you can get before the New Year that will
completely transform your smile and make you unforgettable in 2018.

Professional Teeth Cleaning

When was the last time you got your teeth cleaned at your dentist’s office? Even if you brush
and floss regularly, plaque is difficult to remove from every surface on your teeth. When you
get professional cleanings with your dentist, you allow your smile to be thoroughly cleaned so
that you can have the healthiest smile possible.

Regular cleanings also consistently remove surface stains, so you’re getting a brighter smile just
by visiting your dentist. If you’ve been putting this important visit off, make an appointment
before the holidays. You’ll be surprised by how different your smile will feel afterward!

Get a Bright Smile with Teeth Whitening

If a professional teeth cleaning doesn’t remove the stains on your teeth, your dentist may speak
with you about a teeth whitening procedure. These procedures are often able to remove
deeper stains that regular home care and even professional cleanings aren’t always able to
remove.

The best part about a professional whitening is that you can customize your shade of white.
Whether you want to go for the brightest smile possible or just make a subtle change in your
color, you and your dentist can decide which shade would best compliment your smile. A
professional teeth whitening is also safer than using home kits, and much faster—most
procedures are done in just an hour!

Cosmetic Work for a Stunning Smile

There’s no reason to wait any longer to improve your smile. If you’ve been considering
cosmetic work, there’s no better time to schedule a consultation than before the holidays.
Cosmetic dentistry can help you look and feel your best this holiday season, and present the
smile that best showcases your beauty to the world.

Whether you’ve been considering dental veneers, dental crowns, dental implants, or just a
simple whitening, make an appointment to talk to your dentist. He or she can help you make
the best decision for your unique smile. It’s never too late to improve your smile and enjoy the
benefits of teeth that are both healthy and attractive for the rest of your life!

What improvements have you been wanting to make to your smile this holiday season? From
brightening your smile with a professional cleaning to making a transformation with a teeth
whitening procedure to getting a cosmetic makeover for your smile, there are so many reasons
to smile this holiday season. Talk to your dentist about getting these treatments done to show
your best self in 2018!

The post Top Dental Treatments to Get Before the New Year appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

The traditional process for dental implants can take months. If you’ve been living without teeth
for any length of time, you know how important it is to have your smile restored as quickly as
possible. Can dental implants really be done in one day? Actually, they can! Let’s talk about
same-day dental implants and what they mean for you.

Crown Restoration Is Completed at the Office

3D CT scan technology enables your dentist to make your temporary crown restoration right
there at the office on the day of your dental implant procedure. Although this crown will look
just like your natural teeth, it still qualifies as a temporary solution—until your implant fuses
with the bone in your jaw, your permanent crown can’t be placed.

However, you’ll still get to leave the office that day with a temporary restoration that won’t
have anyone second-guessing your smile. You’ll have a brand-new dental implant and a crown
to top it off, making your dental implants essentially a one-day procedure!

How Are Same-Day Dental Implants Different?

Same-day dental implants aren’t any different from traditional implants. They both require
detailed x-rays for accurate placement, an experienced dentist or oral surgeon, and they both
need time to fuse with the bone in your jaw to be permanent. Since you’ll be getting your
crown and dental implant on the same day, your dentist will need to be sure your dental
implant can healthily support the crown.

Once your dental implant heals and your permanent crown is placed, there’s virtually no
difference between same-day dental implants and traditional dental implants that take months
to complete. Of course, you’ll still need an initial consultation and a follow-up appointment in
addition to the appointment to permanently fix your crown, so keep these visits in mind!

People Who Qualify for Same-Day Dental Implants

The criteria to qualify for same-day dental implants isn’t all that different for traditional dental
implants. You’ll need to have a healthy mouth in order to facilitate proper healing of the
implant. This element is even more important since the entire process will be completed in a
day. You’ll need to have a healthy and strong mouth to qualify. You’ll also need to have enough bone in your jaw to support the implant until your permanent crown is placed. Since your temporary crown will be installed that same day, it’s imperative that your jawbone can support the restoration until you get your permanent crown.

Your dentist can let you know if you qualify for same-day dental implants during your consultation.
Are you in need of a tooth replacement but don’t want to wait months for a dental implant?
Ask your dentist about same-day dental implants. You just might qualify for this procedure and
best of all, you’ll have a gorgeous new smile that same day!

The post Can Dental Implants Be Done in One Day? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.