Services

Broken Tooth Or Filling

SELF-CARE TIPS

If you have a broken tooth, call our office as soon as possible. It is important to determine if the break was caused by tooth decay and if the tooth's nerve is in danger. A damaged nerve usually will require root canal treatment.

Most of the time when patient experience broken tooth or missing filling, they will feel like their teeth is sharper or it has changed in shape and become smaller in size. There is very little you can do at home to remedy a broken tooth. However, if you are experiencing discomfort or the tooth is sharp, some or all of the following may be helpful:

  • Rinse your mouth well with warm water.
  • Apply pressure with a piece of gauze or cotton ball on any bleeding areas for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. If this doesn't work, use a moistened tea bag with pressure on the area to stop any bleeding.
  • If the tooth has a sharp edge, place cotton or orthodontic wax (available over the counter) on the area.
  • If you can't get to your dentist right away, cover the part of the tooth that is in your mouth with temporary dental cement. You can find this at a drugstore.
  • Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. A slightly chipped tooth may not bother you, but a large or deep fracture can be quite painful.
  • Avoid chewing on the area. A soft diet may be helpful.
  • If a broken front tooth is due to an injury, (or if the entire tooth has come out), it is important to keep the tooth moist. Although water is helpful, it is best to place the broken tooth in some milk. If the entire tooth has come out, avoid touching the root end if possible. Very often the broken part of a front tooth may be bonded back into place. The entire tooth may be able to be "replanted".

CALL OUR OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO INCREASE THE CHANCES OF SAVING THE TOOTH AND TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE. CALL 760-746-2559.

Types of Broken Teeth

There are several types of tooth fractures and breaks, each of which requires different treatments. These include:

Chips — Minor chips don't always need treatment. It may require filling material to prevent it from getting worse or to make the tooth look and feel better. If the chip is very small, it may only be necessary to polish and smooth out the chipped area.

Broken cusp — These breaks affect the pointed chewing surfaces (the cusps) of the teeth. They usually do not affect the pulp and are unlikely to cause much pain. It is necessary to repair the damage to restore the tooth's shape and to prevent more of the tooth from breaking. Frequently, an onlay or crown will be required.

Decay-induced break — In this case, the tooth has broken or crumbled because a cavity weakened it from the inside out. It will be necessary to evaluate the cavity and recommend the best way to restore the tooth. In some cases, if the decay is extensive the tooth may require root canal treatment or may have to be removed.

Vertical breaks or split root — These cracks extend to the root of the tooth. These breaks are often painful because the area around the root may be inflamed or infected. In most cases, the tooth cannot be restored and will have to be removed.