What to do if you break a tooth?

Your teeth are strong and designed to withstand biting forces without any problem. However, this does not mean they are indestructible, as a direct impact can not only be painful but also enough to break them.

Whether it was playing a sport or due to a fall, a broken tooth is always an unexpected problem that will make you visit an emergency dentist. Luckily, you can always find an emergency dentist in our office during the weekends as they take 24 hours shifts.

In this article, we will tell you what to do and expect if you break a tooth.

Different types of fractures 

Dental fractures can be categorized according to where the fracture is located, the crown or roots, and the angle. Moreover, horizontal fractures tend to have a better prognosis than vertical ones.

Fortunately, not all fractures are painful as they can often be just a chipped edge or cusp.

After breaking a tooth, your immediate reaction should be to visit your dentist as soon as possible. However, there are a few steps you should do beforehand.

Clean the area

Sometimes, the accident can cause your gums or tooth to bleed. It is advised to gently rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the blood from the area. You can also use sterile gauze to apply pressure to the zone and stop the bleeding.

Look for the broken pieces

Depending on the size of the broken piece, your dentist could fix it back using a bonding material.

After finding it, wash it with fresh water to remove the dirt and keep it safe on a dry and clean gauze or container.

Medication 

Over-the-counter analgesics will ease the pain while you await consultation with the emergency dentist.

What will the dentist do?

The emergency dentist will evaluate the tooth through a clinical and radiographic exam to assess the severity of the lesion. This allows him to design a treatment plan according to the case.

If the fracture is not extensive, the dentist may choose to restore the broken part with composite or bond the fragment to the tooth. However, on an extensive fracture, a root canal might be needed as the nerve could be damaged.

In this scenario, the dentist can remove the pulp and restore the tooth as an emergency treatment. Therefore, alleviating the pain and restoring aesthetics. Once the emergency has been resolved, the root canal can be performed at a later date.

However, some cases cannot be restored, such as root fractures or vertical fractures. If this happens, the dentist will need to perform a tooth extraction.

A tooth fracture can be an enormous and painful inconvenience. However, our emergency dentists at Miami Beach are always ready to solve the issue. Furthermore, taking the broken tooth fragment back to the dentist can help you save time and achieve a more natural result as the dentist may be able to bond it back, restoring your natural smile.

 

REFERENCES:

 

Dunkin, M. A. (2020, September 13). Chipped or broken tooth treatment & repair. WebMD. Retrieved December 26, 2021, from https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/repairing-a-chipped-or-broken-tooth 

Edwards, J. M. (2019, September 19). How to fix a chipped tooth or a broken tooth, and what not to do. Healthline. Retrieved December 27, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-fix-a-chipped-tooth 

Google. (n.d.). What to do with a broken tooth | colgate®. Google. Retrieved December 27, 2021, from https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/dental-emergencies-and-sports-safety/what-to-do-with-a-broken-tooth 

NHS. (2021, August 13). Chipped, broken or cracked tooth. NHS choices. Retrieved December 27, 2021, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chipped-broken-or-cracked-tooth/ 

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