Case of the week – Broken tooth fixed with composite

Sam had a broken tooth fixed with composite. He took a spill late night on his college campus on a sheet of ice and landed directly on his mouth.  The result can be seen below.  A broken front tooth. Unforaitnely, since this accident was late and night and in the ice and snow the piece of tooth was not found. Whenever a tooth breaks, if you can find the piece(s) that is very helpful. Fortunately the tooth did not break into the nerve and I was thus able to restore the tooth with a composite veneer.

Typically, we don’t usually like to use composite veneers, but this situation was really ideal. If there is damage to more than one tooth we prefer porcelain veneers.

How do we go about fixing a broken tooth with composite?

In a situation like this there are multiple ways to fix the tooth. If you are lucky enough to find the pieces we simply bond them all back together. If the pieces are gone, then we must recreate the natural look of the tooth. To recreate the tooth we can either free hand the tooth or we can take an impression. The impression will allow the lab and the time to make a perfect match to your tooth in terms of shape. This technique is probably overkill if the break is small enough to fix with composite.

Why fix a broken tooth with composite?

The main reason is that it is the most cost effective, efficient and esthetic way to accomplish the goal.

Positives of using this technique for a  broken tooth.

• Conservative – This method does not require more tooth removal to restore the tooth
• Ability to alter the color – The dentist can alter the color themselves on the spot.
• Quick – There is not a faster fix.
• Cost effective – Although this is not cheap, it is the cheapest method of fixing a broken tooth.

Negatives of using this technique fix a broken tooth.

• Longevity – Composite fillings will not last as long as crowns or veneers. Sometimes it is challenging to stop them from chipping.