What to Do About a Cracked or Missing Tooth

You brush, you floss, and you see the dentist regularly. But despite your best efforts, accidents and emergencies happen. And now, you find yourself with a cracked, fractured, or missing tooth. 

What you do next can have a major impact on your oral health and your overall wellness, too.

Broken or cracked teeth and missing teeth aren’t just cosmetic problems. They can increase your risk of other problems, like cavities, infections, and tooth loss. 

At Dentist at Rock Creek in Cypress, Texas, KimCuc Vo, DDS, and Sandra Raouf, DDS, offer state-of-the-art restorative treatments aimed at protecting your teeth and preventing more serious or widespread problems. 

If you have a damaged or missing tooth, here’s how we can help you restore your smile and your oral health.

Cracked and broken teeth

Cracked teeth are pretty common, and they can happen for lots of reasons, like:

• Biting on a hard object
• Teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Large cavities or fillings
• Trauma, like a fall or being struck in the face

Often, cracks develop in older people after years of biting and chewing take their toll on teeth, especially if the enamel is weak or the tooth has other damage.

Most cracked teeth are painful, but even if a cracked tooth doesn’t cause symptoms, it still needs to be repaired right away. Even the tiniest crack allows germs to enter the tooth, and soon you could be facing a serious infection. 

The treatment used depends on the extent of the crack, the health of the tooth, and where the crack happens. 

Cracks that extend below the gumline often require extraction followed by a tooth replacement, like a bridge, denture, or implant. Other cracks can be treated with a crown that fits snugly over the tooth to protect it and prevent further problems.

If the tooth has already become infected, we might recommend root canal treatment. A root canal involves removing damaged and infected material in the center of the tooth, then filling it with a durable material to add strength. Finally, we cover the tooth with a crown for added protection.

Missing teeth

Like cracked or broken teeth, missing teeth happen for lots of reasons, including trauma, decay, and gum disease, a top cause of tooth loss among adults. 

Once a tooth is missing, it’s important to replace it right away to maintain your bite balance and avoid further problems, like jaw pain, tooth misalignment, and additional tooth loss.

Our team offers several options for replacing missing teeth, including dentures, bridges, and state-of-the-art dental implants. Each option offers its own pros and cons, although dental implants tend to be an increasingly popular option, whether you’re missing one tooth, several teeth, or an entire row of teeth.

All of our tooth replacement options feature advanced materials for maximum comfort and function. In addition to restoring your bite and improving your oral health, replacing missing teeth can maintain your natural face shape and improve your confidence.

Don’t ignore your oral health

The best way to prevent tooth damage and other oral health problems is with regular preventive care, including twice-yearly dental checkups. If it’s been a while since your last checkup or if you have any type of oral health problem, call us at 832-737-8234 or book an appointment online with our team today.