Handling a Broken Tooth Emergency: Repair Your Smile in Upland
Crown and Bridge Fix
A broken tooth often happens when you least expect it—crunching on a piece of ice, opening a package with your teeth (we’ve all done it), or taking an elbow to the mouth during sports. The result is often a jagged, sharp edge that cuts your tongue, or deep pain if the nerve is exposed.
At Higher Ground Dentistry in Upland, we specialize in Urgent Restorative Dentistry. Using advanced dental materials, we can stabilize your tooth immediately and provide a high-quality, long-lasting restoration to get your smile back to 100%.
If you are experiencing pain, sensitivity, or difficulty chewing — do not wait.
Same-day emergency stabilization available for broken teeth in Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Claremont, and Ontario.
Assessing the Damage: How Bad Is It? Crown and Bride
- Craze Lines (Minor Cracks)
These are tiny, hairline cracks that only affect the outer enamel. They are very common in adults.
- Symptoms: Usually painless; mostly a cosmetic concern.
- Treatment: Often no treatment is needed, or we can polish them out.
A piece of the enamel has broken off.
- Symptoms: The tooth may feel sharp or rough to the tongue. There is usually no pain unless the chip is deep.
- Treatment: Dental Bonding. We apply a tooth-colored composite resin and sculpt it to match your natural tooth shape. It’s a fast, affordable, and painless fix.
A crack extends from the chewing surface down toward the root.
- Symptoms: Pain when biting or chewing, or sensitivity to hot/cold temperatures. The pain may come and go.
- Treatment: A Crown is usually needed to hold the tooth structure together and prevent the crack from deepening. If the crack has reached the pulp (nerve), a root canal may also be needed.
- Broken Cusp
A piece of the chewing surface (cusp) breaks off. This often happens around old, large silver fillings.
- Symptoms: Usually not painful, but the tooth feels "lost" or jagged.
- Treatment: An Onlay or Crown to restore the chewing surface.
- Serious Break (Split Tooth)
The tooth is split vertically into two parts.
- Symptoms: Severe pain and mobility of the tooth segments.
Treatment: Unfortunately, a split tooth often cannot be saved and requires Extraction. We can then replace it with a Dental Implant or Bridge.
The Restoration Process: Crown & Bridge
When a tooth is severely broken, a crown (cap) is often the best solution to save it. At Higher Ground Dentistry, we take pride in delivering precision-fitted restorations.
- Emergency Stabilization: First, we numb the area and remove any decay or compromised tooth structure. We build up the core of the tooth to ensure it is stable.
- Precision Impressions: We take detailed impressions of your tooth to ensure your new crown fits your bite perfectly.
- Temporary Crown: You will not leave our office with a gap. We fabricate a custom temporary crown to protect your tooth and allow you to chew comfortably while your permanent crown is being crafted.
- Lab-Crafted Excellence: We partner with top-tier dental laboratories to create your permanent crown using high-strength ceramics or zirconia. This ensures a level of durability and aesthetic nuance that matches your natural teeth perfectly.
Final Placement: Once your permanent crown is ready (usually within 1-2 weeks), you return for a quick visit to have it bonded permanently in place.
What to Do Before You Arrive
- Rinse: Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area.
- Cover: If the tooth is sharp, cover it with a piece of sugar-free gum or dental wax to protect your tongue and cheek.
- Save the Pieces: If a large piece of tooth broke off, save it! Keep it in milk or saliva. In some rare cases, we can reattach it.
Eat Soft: Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth until we fix it.