Have you ever had a broken or chipped tooth? If it’s your first time dealing with a broken tooth, you probably don’t know what emergency measures to take to avoid long-term problems.
Teeth are the strongest structures in your body and despite their condition or strength, they can be easily damaged in many ways. Trauma can fracture , crack, or fracture the tooth , depending on the force of the impact, but don’t worry about it, as a broken or chipped tooth is the most common tooth injury. While it can be scary and frustrating at times, causing unnecessary pain, it can be easily treated by going to the dentist as soon as possible. First, let’s look at some common causes of chipped/broken teeth.
Common causes of a chipped/broken tooth can include
- Tooth decay
- Bite or chew something hard
- Facial trauma – result of an accident or sport
- Exposed metal filling
- Untreated cavities – causes weak teeth
- Pulp necrosis – can occur as a result of tooth decay or trauma
- Age factor/wear – tooth fracture occurs in people 50 years and older
Breaking a tooth does not cause immediate pain in most cases, but you will notice it as soon as it happens. Likewise, most people experience pain while eating from chewing and biting. Other than that, if the pain moves to the internal part of your tooth and causes swelling, you may feel sensitivity to hot or cold foods/drinks.
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What to do after you have broken/broken the tooth
When you break or chip a tooth, there are several things you can do to immediately take the pain away and protect your mouth. Here’s what you can do:
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
- Apply pressure to bleeding spots with a cloth or gauze / wet tea bag
- Apply a cold compress to the cheek to reduce swelling
- Do not chew or bite hard foods
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease the pain and discomfort
What should I do if my tooth breaks?
If the tooth is completely broken or chipped, collect the broken pieces and rinse them with water. Then place them in a clean, dry container so you can take them to the dentist. For now, you can apply dental wax to the jagged edge of your teeth to prevent it from damaging your mouth . The next step requires you to see your dentist as soon as possible, but if the dentin or pulp is exposed, you should see a doctor immediately.
How a broken / chipped tooth is treated
Don’t lose hope as different treatments can repair your tooth depending on the damage. For example, if the tooth is badly fractured or severely fractured, more extensive treatment is required.
Potato chips
If your teeth have small chips on the edges, the dentist may suggest a file and fix it by polishing or smoothing the edge.
Cracked Tooth
Each tear is not serious, but in some cases the tear can expose your nerve endings, making the teeth sensitive to hot or cold foods/drinks. A small crack will require a file with a special dental cement, while a bad one will require a crown or root canal treatment, depending on the dentist’s assessment.
Broken tooth
A broken tooth is considered a dental emergency, requiring immediate attention. If the tooth is severely damaged, the dentist may recommend an extraction procedure followed by an implant treatment, in which the broken tooth is replaced with a dental implant . In other cases, the gums become infected with bacteria, the dentists place a temporary crown or remove the infected pulp and replace it with plastic filings through a root canal. Therefore, these treatments are only recommended in complex situations.
A chipped or broken tooth is quite common and doesn’t necessarily cause damage, so the best way to protect your oral ecosystem is to see a dentist to make sure everything is in order. If you experience other abnormalities related to a broken tooth and you are looking for a dentist in Mortsel , make an appointment with us to discuss the best method for restoring your tooth.
