If you have something happen to one or more of your teeth, then you want to have an understanding of the treatment options you may have available to you. One of the first things that you want to remember is that getting to the dentist right away is one of the best things that you can do when it comes to increasing your chances of being able to save the tooth. Here are some things you should understand about dealing with dental emergencies –

What happens with a chipped tooth?

When you chip your tooth, it leaves you more susceptible to cavities, since the outer shell known as the enamel won't be there to protect the inner tooth. A chipped tooth can also cause other problems since it will be a sharp object in your mouth that can cut your tongue, lips, etc.

Depending on the condition of the tooth the dentist may be able to fix the tooth right in their office by putting an acid on the tooth to rough it up so bonding will adhere. Then, they can add bonding material that matches the rest of the tooth and hand design it, so it completes the tooth and corrects the issue. They will then use a special light to harden the bonding and finish up by giving it a nice polishing job. The dentist may instead feel that a crown or porcelain veneer would be a better course of action, depending on the chip.

What happens with a severe break in a tooth?

If you have broken off a good amount of your tooth, then the dentist may decide a full crown or porcelain veneer to completely cover the broken tooth. When you have a bad break in a tooth, it can significantly weaken it.

The dentist may even send you home in a temporary crown if they feel the need is there to protect the tooth until the real crown or veneer is completed. This is also good because it will keep others from being able to see that you have broken your tooth.

What happens if you knock out a tooth?

If you knock out a tooth then the best thing that could happen is that you find the tooth, store it properly in your own saliva and get in to the dentist fast enough to have it implanted so it takes. However, things don't always go this smoothly. If they don't, then you'll be faced with ways to replace the tooth.

You can go with a partial denture for simplicity and financial reasons. Or, you can go with a dental implant that will replace that knocked out tooth with the closest thing that you can get to a real tooth. However, you will need to be proven as a good implant candidate in order for this to be a true option.

Visit a website like dentistofmanchester.com for more information.