If you have a chipped or broken tooth, you may be having a dental emergency and should consult with your emergency dentist as soon as possible. Very often, small chips and cracks can be repaired with dental bonding or fillings, but the only way to know for sure is to consult a professional. In this article, we are going to take a look at how to fix a broken tooth and what your options are.
How To Fix A Broken Tooth: Important Notes To Consider
A fractured, chipped, or broken tooth needs to be checked by an emergency dentist because it is possible for an infection to develop or for your tooth to get damaged further. Even very small cracks in the surface of your tooth can allow harmful bacteria to penetrate your tooth, leading to a dental emergency.
Tips To Handle A Dental Emergency
If you are bleeding from your mouth and cannot stop the bleeding or if you are in pain that doesn’t respond to pain medication, please do not wait for an emergency dentist appointment. Instead, make your way to the nearest clinic for urgent assistance. If your emergency dentist does have an appointment available and you experience discomfort, try:
- Over-the-counter pain medication
- Eating on the opposite side of your mouth
- Avoid hot and cold drinks and sugar which may cause tooth sensitivity
Treatment Options To Fix A Broken Tooth
The degree of damage will determine the most appropriate treatment option. In the event that only a small piece of the tooth has been chipped, it’s quite possible that your dentist will be able to do the repair in the chair in one visit.
Fillings and dental bonding
Small fractures, cracks and chips to back teeth can often be repaired using dental fillings. If your broken tooth is at the front of your mouth, your dentist may elect to use dental bonding to fix it. Tooth-coloured bonding material can be used without the need to numb the tooth being worked on, if the broken tooth has a superficial crack or a small piece has broken off.
Dental crowns
If the damage to your tooth is extensive and a large piece has broken off, your dentist will need to protect the existing structure from further damage while building your tooth up. A dental crown is a cap or cover that is placed over the tooth to protect it against decay or more damage. It will be colour matched so it blends in with your other teeth and shaped so there aren’t any jagged edges.
Advice For A Dental Emergency
- Never try to fix a broken tooth yourself. Contact your emergency dentist or nearest clinic if you need immediate assistance.
- If your tooth has been knocked out, it is a dental emergency, and you must seek medical treatment. Take the tooth with you and apply pressure to curb the bleeding.
Our clinic prioritises dental emergencies. If you need to know how to fix a broken tooth, please call our practice: 02 8894 10070
REFERENCES
Repairing a Chipped or Broken Tooth
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/repairing-a-chipped-or-broken-tooth
What to Do If You Chip or Break a Tooth
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-fix-a-chipped-tooth
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