Many activities can cause a broken tooth. You may break your tooth after suffering a fall, eating hard foods, or participating in a sports activity without mouth protection.
Although not every broken tooth is a dental emergency, contacting an emergency dentist can ensure you receive the treatment you need to avoid potential infection or pain resulting from the break.
If you break a tooth that leaves you with severe pain, sharp edges, or bleeding, make an emergency dentist appointment with Total Dental Care Studio. Your dentist can examine your mouth and talk to you about how to fix a broken tooth to restore your smile and prevent future problems.
Types of Broken Teeth
When deciding how to fix a broken tooth, your dentist examines your mouth to determine what type of break you have and decide on a course of treatment. You may have a crack, fracture, split, or break, which your dentist can fix with differing procedures.
- Crack. A cracked tooth is broken from its surface to the root.
- Fracture. A fracture happens when a piece of the tooth’s surface breaks off.
- Split. A split tooth is a fracture that extends beyond the gum line.
- Vertical root fracture. A vertical root fracture starts in the tooth’s root and extends up towards the chewing surface.
What Causes a Broken Tooth?
Cracks and breaks can happen for several reasons, including poor oral hygiene and diet or weak tooth enamel. However, they are most often caused by blunt force breaks due to dental trauma.
Blunt force breaks are often a more serious dental emergency and require an immediate visit to an emergency dentist. If possible, contact an emergency dentist within 30 minutes of breaking your tooth, especially if you are experiencing pain, tenderness, or swelling.
If you have broken or chipped a tooth due to a fall or blunt force contact with a surface or object, collect the loose pieces of tooth, wrap them in gauze, and immerse them in saline solution. Your emergency dentist may use them to repair the tooth during your visit.
How to Fix a Broken Tooth?
There are several methods your emergency dentist may choose when deciding how to fix a broken tooth, depending on the nature of the dental emergency and the severity of the problem.
Immediate replacement
If your tooth was knocked out or chipped and you were able to get to an emergency dentist quickly, it may be possible to cement the broken tooth or chipped piece back in place. They can clean the tooth and reattach the pieces with dental adhesive.
Bonding
If your tooth chip or crack is minor, your dentist may bond it back together. This composite material is put into the crack or used like glue to reattach the chipped piece. Then, they use ultraviolet light to set the bond and shape the material to fit with the rest of the tooth.
Dental crown
If your tooth is too damaged for bonding, your dentist may apply a dental crown. A dental crown is a cap that fits over your damaged tooth and gives you the same appearance and function as the original tooth.
Crowns are made of dental-grade porcelain and match the colour of your other teeth. After preparing your tooth by removing some enamel, your dentist will make an impression. They then send the mould to a dental lab, where a technician custom makes your crown. Once it is ready, your dentist cements the crown over your prepared tooth.
Root canal
If the crack extends into the root of your tooth, you may require a root canal. This procedure clears infected pulp from the tooth root that could cause you to lose the tooth later. After removing the damaged tissue, your dentist repairs your tooth with a filling. They may also cap it with a crown if you are missing a large part of your tooth’s structure.
Dental implant
If you have lost the tooth or it is too damaged to be saved, your dentist may recommend a dental implant. A dental implant is a metal post surgically embedded into your jaw. An abutment is placed on top in a separate surgery, and this connecting piece is used to secure a porcelain crown to the implant. Dental implants look and function just like regular teeth. Get more information.
Treat Broken Teeth Immediately
A broken tooth is a dental emergency, and you must treat it as quickly as possible. Failing to treat it could lead to complications or further damage to your teeth. Contact Total Care Dental Studio at (07) 3186 8517 if you have a dental emergency and get the right treatment you need now.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Cracked Teeth
https://www.aae.org/patients/dental-symptoms/cracked-teeth/#3
Knocked-Out Teeth
https://www.aae.org/patients/dental-symptoms/knocked-out-teeth/
Dental injury
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-injury
