Have you broken a tooth recently? Then you probably want to contact local dental services as soon as possible. Broken teeth are painful and without swift dental intervention, they can soon become infected. Depending on the severity of your tooth break, you may be able to have your broken tooth repaired in a single appointment.
Composite bonding can be done in under an hour
When a break is minor, composite bonding is suitable and fast. For instance, if you have only chipped a small part of your tooth, then a dentist can repair that tooth with composite bonding in about 45 minutes.
Composite veneers are similar to composite bonding but they usually cover the whole surface of a tooth rather than just a section. These also take about 45 minutes and are suitable for moderately broken teeth.
CEREC veneers take about an hour
Traditional veneers usually require about two appointments to complete. But there is another option called CEREC veneers. Instead of having a lab technician fashion your porcelain veneer, the dentist will create your veneer using a CEREC machine. They will first create a 3D image of your tooth using a computer, and then feed that information into the machine to create your veneer.
CEREC veneers only take about an hour to complete. If your tooth has snapped in half, then CEREC veneers are a more durable option than composite bonding or composite veneers.
CEREC crowns take about an hour
If you have broken your tooth badly, then the best approach is to treat your tooth with a dental crown. Dental crowns look like your real teeth, and they protect broken teeth by covering them entirely. Usually, a dental crown will take about two visits to complete. But again, just as with CEREC veneers, CEREC crowns only take about one hour to complete.
So if you have a bad break, and you want to repair your tooth in a single day, choose CEREC crowns.
You can opt for a temporary option
A dentist can also create a temporary solution for you if necessary. For instance, if you can't afford one of the other options just now, then your dentist may make you a temporary crown or veneer to protect your tooth for now.
Although temporary options are not as strong or as attractive as permanent crowns or veneers, they are a good option if you are in a hurry and can't afford one of the more expensive options. Later, your dentist can remove the temporary crown or veneer and replace it with a permanent one.
Share1 April 2021
As a retired dentist, I work with charities which visit developing countries and educate children about dental care. It gives me great satisfaction to revisit these communities and see how proud the children are of their efforts. I am acutely aware that good dental hygiene can help prevent a range of serious conditions when these children become older. I started this blog because it greatly distresses me that many people in Australia do not seem to care for their teeth as much as children in these poor communities. This is happening despite ready access to items like toothbrushes and toothpaste which are luxuries in the places I visit. It is my hope that this blog encourages you not to take dental health for granted. My greatest wish is that you can be as inspired as the children I see in my charity work. Please read on and enjoy.
