BROKEN TOOTH

Teeth may fracture, crack or break from wear, a sporting impact, biting down on a hard object, an accident, an assault, tooth cavity or due to dental decay and oral infection. There are numerous reasons why teeth may break, and only a dental professional can assess the extent of damage for tooth restoration or extraction. In most cases, dentists strive to preserve existing dental structures. Individuals with broken teeth should contact their dentist for an appointment immediately. When the situation is severe, emergency dental care should be sought. In the interim, painkillers may be used to alleviate pain, and a compress may be applied to the side of the face where the dental pain is located.

If any part of the tooth or dental restoration has broken off, the broken part should be kept and given to the dentist at the appointment. Depending on the type of broken tooth, a dentist may restore the tooth through a composite white filling, inlay, onlay, or crown. Where infection is present, root canal treatment may be needed to eliminate the infection. In severe cases of infection and tooth damage, tooth extraction may be required, but dentists aim to preserve the existing tooth as best as possible.

PROCEDURE

Your dentist will take X-rays and examine the tooth to determine whether there are any underlying problems, like gum disease or decay. Depending on the extent of internal damage to the affected tooth structure, more serious breaks may require more invasive procedures, like root canal therapy or crown replacements.