Broken and chipped teeth are common injuries in children, often caused by accidents, sports, or simply playing too hard. At Ahava Orthodontics in Fort Worth, TX, we understand that these situations can be alarming for both parents and children. Our team of pediatric dental and orthodontic specialists is here to provide expert care to restore your child’s smile and ensure their long-term oral health.
When a child chips or breaks a tooth, it’s important to seek professional treatment as soon as possible. Even a small chip can lead to pain, sensitivity, and potential complications if left untreated. Whether your child has damaged a baby tooth or a permanent tooth, our dental experts at Ahava Orthodontics will provide the necessary care to repair the damage and protect their overall dental health.
Why Broken and Chipped Teeth in Children Need Immediate Attention
Children are naturally active, which puts them at risk for dental injuries, including chipped or broken teeth. These incidents can occur from a variety of situations—playing sports, roughhousing, falls, or even biting into hard foods. While not all chipped teeth may seem serious, ignoring the issue can lead to complications.
A broken or chipped tooth can expose the sensitive inner layers of the tooth, known as the dentin, or even the pulp. When this happens, your child may experience pain or heightened sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Additionally, if the damage reaches the nerve, it could result in an infection or abscess, requiring more intensive treatment.
Even if the damage appears to be minor, seeking prompt dental care ensures that the tooth is properly examined and treated before the situation worsens. Baby teeth are essential for guiding permanent teeth into place, so preserving their health is critical to avoiding alignment issues in the future.
How Our Pediatric Dentist Treats Chipped and Broken Teeth
At Ahava Orthodontics, our pediatric dentist specializes in treating dental injuries in children, using gentle and effective techniques to repair broken or chipped teeth. The treatment approach depends on the severity of the damage and whether it involves a baby tooth or a permanent tooth.
- Minor Chips: For small chips that only affect the outer enamel, our pediatric dentist can often smooth the rough edges and restore the tooth’s shape using tooth-colored bonding material. This not only repairs the cosmetic appearance but also prevents further chipping or wear.
- Moderate Chips and Breaks: If the damage extends beyond the enamel into the dentin layer, a more involved procedure may be necessary. In these cases, our dentist will clean the damaged area and apply a bonding material or a dental crown to protect the tooth and restore its function. Crowns are especially helpful for baby teeth that have significant damage, as they protect the tooth until it naturally falls out.
- Severe Breaks: When the damage reaches the pulp of the tooth (where the nerve and blood vessels are located), a more intensive treatment like a pulpotomy (baby root canal) or extraction may be needed. Our pediatric dentist will carefully assess the situation and recommend the best course of action to preserve your child’s dental health.
We understand that dental treatments can be intimidating for children, so our team takes extra steps to ensure your child feels comfortable and safe throughout the process. We explain each step in child-friendly language and use distraction techniques to ease any anxiety.
How Our Orthodontist Can Help With Dental Injuries
In addition to the immediate dental care provided by our pediatric dentist, our orthodontist may also play a role in treating broken and chipped teeth. Dental injuries can affect the alignment of your child’s teeth, especially if the injury causes tooth loss or shifts the surrounding teeth out of position.
- Assessing Tooth Alignment: If a broken tooth is part of a larger injury that affects the jaw or bite, our orthodontist will evaluate your child’s overall dental alignment. Injuries that displace teeth can lead to bite problems, speech issues, and uneven wear on the teeth. Our orthodontist will work to realign the teeth, if necessary, to ensure proper function and a healthy smile.
- Space Maintainers for Missing Teeth: If a baby tooth is severely damaged and needs to be extracted, it’s important to maintain the space for the permanent tooth to come in. Our orthodontist may recommend a space maintainer, a small device that prevents neighboring teeth from shifting into the gap left by the missing tooth. This ensures that when the permanent tooth erupts, it has enough space and doesn’t lead to misalignment.
- Orthodontic Treatment for Long-Term Care: If the injury impacts your child’s permanent teeth and causes alignment issues, our orthodontist can create a customized treatment plan. This might involve braces or other orthodontic appliances to correct any changes in the bite or tooth positioning caused by the injury. Early intervention can prevent more serious issues from developing as your child grows.
Get Early Treatment for Dental Injuries
- Preventing Infections: When a tooth is broken or chipped, bacteria can enter the damaged area, increasing the risk of infection. Early treatment helps seal the tooth, preventing infection and the need for more extensive procedures.
- Maintaining Proper Function: Chipped or broken teeth can affect your child’s ability to chew, speak, and smile with confidence. Restoring the tooth allows your child to eat and speak normally, promoting healthy development.
- Protecting Permanent Teeth: Even though baby teeth eventually fall out, they play a crucial role in guiding permanent teeth into place. Treating damaged baby teeth helps prevent future orthodontic issues by ensuring proper spacing and alignment.
If you’re looking for compassionate care for your child’s broken or chipped teeth, Ahava Orthodontics in Fort Worth is ready to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with our pediatric dental and orthodontic specialists to restore your child’s smile and protect their dental health.
