REBONDING FRACTURED TOOTH FRAGMENTS
Composite bonding gives us the ability to reglue pieces of fractured teeth in some situations.
Can a piece of fractured tooth be reglued?
Yes! Sometimes, if there is enough sound tooth remaining, and if the fractured piece of tooth is not damaged, then the fragment can be reglued using composite bonding. The aesthetics of rebonding a natural piece of tooth are always better than anything dentist made. So if you fracture a tooth, ALWAYS try and save the pieces, and bring them with you to your emergency appointment. The Composite & Bonding
page outlines the principle behind the technique as well as information on the advantages, challenges and longevity.
Rebonding a front tooth fragment
1. This young patient fractured half his central incisor off, but was able to find the piece and bring it in to the surgery.
2. This was a bad break, but fortunately the nerve was not exposed and the rest of the tooth was undamaged.
3. The tooth fragment was cleaned, dried, treated and rebonded. Iniitally the fragment looks white, due to it being out of the mouth and dehydrating.
4. After the tooth has time to reabsorb saliva, its colour returns to normal and the repair is invisible!
Rebonding a lateral incisor fragment
1. This patient knocked a large piece of her lateral incisor off playing sport. Luckily she too knew to find and keep the fragment.
2. The fractured piece of tooth was sizable, but was intact and undamaged.
3. The adjacent teeth are protected with tape to prevent the composite bonding to them too. The tooth is prepared with blue acid etch.
4. Once bonded back in place and polished, the fractured tooth looks 100% natural!
Rebonding a dreaded hydroslide accident
1. This dentist's daughter broke her tooth on the hydroslide.
2. The tooth fragment was rebonded successfully. The bond was so strong that when she traumatised the tooth again later, the glue remained intact and the tooth fractured in a different place!
