What Should I do about a Broken Tooth?
You cannot treat a broken tooth at home, it is important to see your dentist as soon as you can. The dentist will look at the tooth to determine what caused the break to occur. This exam will be used to determine what type of treatment is necessary to fix the broken tooth. The dentist will decide if you need a root canal or other procedure to fix the tooth.
What to do Until You get to the Dentist Near You
There are some things you should do while you are trying to get to the dental clinic such as:
- Rinse your mouth out using warm water.
- Use a piece of gauze to hold pressure on any area that is bleeding. A tea bag can also be used in place of the gauze to help the bleeding stop.
- Place an ice pack over the cheek or lips near the broken tooth. This helps relieve pain and reduce swelling.
- If you cannot get to the dental clinic immediately, use dental cement to cover the piece of tooth remaining in your mouth. This product is available at your local pharmacy.
- Take over-the- counter medications to help you control pain.
What The Dentist Will do for a Broken Tooth
Your dentist will choose a treatment option based on the type of break that has occurred.
- A minor crack may be lightly polished and smoothed out.
- A Cracked tooth may be repaired with a filling. It usually requires a crown to keep the crack from worsening. If the pulp of the tooth was damaged, then it is likely you’ll also need a root canal.
- A chipped tooth might not need treatment if it is minor. But filling material may be used to help keep it from getting worse or for cosmetic reasons.
- Broken or split teeth will usually need to be restored and a crown or onlays placed.