The first hours after a tooth breaks are critical: keep the broken piece, rinse your mouth with warm salt water, apply gentle pressure with gauze if there is bleeding, use a cold compress against swelling and see a dentist without delay. Depending on the size and location of the break, treatment involves bonding, veneers, crowns or root canal treatment.
- Keep the broken piece in milk or inside your cheek.
- Small fractures can be repaired with composite bonding.
- Large fractures are treated with a porcelain or zirconia crown.
- If the fracture has reached the pulp, root canal treatment is done first.
- A tooth knocked out at the root should be taken to the dentist in milk within the first 30 minutes.
What should you do about a broken tooth? When a tooth breaks, the first few hours are critical. Here are the steps you should follow:
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Keep the Piece: If possible, find the broken piece of tooth. In some cases, the dentist can bond this piece back into place.
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Rinse Your Mouth: Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water to clean the area.
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Stop the Bleeding: If there is bleeding, apply gentle pressure to the area with clean gauze for 10 minutes.
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Prevent Swelling: Control swelling and pain by applying a cold compress to the outside of your cheek.
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Reach a Dentist: Make an appointment with a dentist without delay.
Treatment Options for a Broken Tooth
Your dentist will choose the most suitable treatment based on the size and location of the fracture:
1. Bonding (Composite Filling)
If the fracture is small, the dentist can repair the tooth with "bonding", often without needing to numb it. Tooth-colored composite resin is applied and shaped over the broken area and hardened with a special light.
2. Dental Veneer
This is preferred especially for aesthetic fractures in the front teeth. Thin porcelain layers placed on the front surface of the tooth both provide a natural look and preserve the integrity of the tooth.
3. Dental Crown
If a large part of the tooth has broken off or the remaining structure is weak, the tooth is covered with a porcelain or zirconia crown. This method fully restores the tooth's former function and appearance.
4. Root Canal Treatment
If the fracture has reached the nerve tissue inside the tooth (the pulp), severe pain and sensitivity occur. In this case, root canal treatment is done first to save the tooth, and then the restoration (filling or crown) is completed.
What to Do About a Broken Tooth? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does a broken tooth heal on its own?
No. Tooth enamel cannot regenerate itself. Even a small crack, if left untreated, can grow over time and lead to tooth loss or infection.
How should a broken piece of tooth be stored?
You should keep the broken piece in a little milk or inside your mouth (inside your cheek) and take it to the dentist as soon as possible. Milk helps keep the tooth cells alive.
How can broken tooth pain be relieved?
As a temporary solution, you can use painkillers recommended by your pharmacist and apply cold to the area. However, dental treatment is essential for a definitive solution.
What should you do if the tooth has come out completely at the root?
This is a "dental emergency". Hold the tooth by the crown without touching the root, rinse it gently with clean water (do not scrub it!) and try to put it back in its socket. If it will not go back in, keep it in milk and get to a dentist within the first 30 minutes.
Is broken tooth treatment expensive?
The cost of treatment depends on the extent of the procedure. While a simple filling (bonding) is quite economical, root canal treatment and zirconia crowns may cost more. Early treatment always offers lower-cost solutions.
For information about any problem with your broken tooth and the treatments that can be done, you can contact us.
