You never know when you might need emergency dental care. Accidents can and do happen and in the event of a dental injury, you might find yourself wishing you knew what to do with a broken tooth.
It can be distressing to witness or suffer a dental injury and knowing what to do can make all the difference to losing or saving the damaged tooth. The important thing is to take a deep breath and stay calm. Help is but a phone call away and the good news is that whether the tooth is cracked, chipped or broken, it may be possible to save it. This article details the steps to take to give a broken tooth the best possible chance of survival. So, let’s dive in and take a closer look at what to do with a broken tooth.
Contact an emergency dentist asap
In a scenario where you or a loved one has a dental injury, it’s vital to speak with a dental professional as quickly as possible. As a general rule of thumb, remember that the faster you act, the greater chance there is that your dentist can save the damaged or broken tooth.
The majority of chipped, fractured and broken teeth are caused by an accident of some sort or a sporting injury. While it’s important to visit your dentist as soon as you can if a tooth is chipped or cracked, if it’s dislodged or has been knocked out altogether, then this is particularly serious and requires emergency dental care whatever the time of day or night.
Seek professional dental help fast
Even if the injury doesn’t look severe, it’s important to contact a dentist right away. Although it may not be obvious, neighbouring teeth could have suffered trauma. Visiting an emergency dentist immediately helps reduce the risk of further complications further down the line and could help you avoid pain while also saving treatment time and cost.
Our experienced team at Dental 266 are trained to save teeth whenever possible, and the faster you call us for assistance, the better chance we have of helping you and your broken tooth.
What to do with a broken tooth?
It’s always best to call your dentist right away for advice over the phone. Meanwhile, here are a few tips that will help while you wait for your appointment.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water
- Use a piece of clean gauze or a rolled-up handkerchief and apply firm pressure to any area that is bleeding by gently biting down on it. Continue to do this until the bleeding has subsided.
- It may also help to apply a cold compress (wrapped in a clean tea towel) to the outside of your cheek or lip to help reduce any swelling. Do not place anything cold directly onto the broken tooth or it may make it hurt even more.
- You may not see any evidence of a cracked tooth or spot any damage so it’s important to look for any symptoms such as tooth pain when you bite in a certain way. The pain should feel sharper and more acute than the type of dull ache that you may experience with a tooth cavity.
What to expect from emergency dental care?
The main objective of an emergency dentist is to relieve you of any pain, carry out any essential treatment, or book you in for the next available appointment. Naturally, the treatment you receive will depend on the severity of the injury. The dentist will carry out a thorough examination to determine the best treatment outcome to help fix your existing teeth.
In most cases, a chipped or fractured tooth can be repaired with dental bonding. If the tooth has suffered more substantial damage, then a dental crown may be necessary to restore the tooth.
If eating is painful or a cold drink makes you flinch, it may be that the inside of the tooth is damaged and you may need a root canal. A dislodged tooth can be repositioned, but again root canal therapy may be necessary to ensure it re-attaches properly. A knocked-out tooth will be gently placed back into the socket and a wire may be used to hold it in place for a few weeks as the tooth stabilises. If this fails, then once more a root canal may be necessary.
What to do if a child has a broken tooth?
When a child chips a primary tooth it can usually be restored. However, in some cases, our dentists may not recommend the repair of dislodged or knocked-out baby teeth for fear of damaging the adult teeth that are still developing underneath. In this case, regular dental checks to ensure the roots are growing properly for a child to keep their natural tooth is the best course of action
The success of broken tooth repair always boils down to how soon the dentist gets to treat it after the injury has occurred.
If you require urgent dental assistance then call Dental 266 on (02) 9051 0600 or book via our online booking system. We’re here to help get you out of any discomfort or pain fast!
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.