You should call your dentist immediately if you’ve chipped or cracked a tooth. While a broken tooth isn’t always a dental emergency, in some cases, it is. When you call My Local Dentists Northmead, our trained professionals can determine whether you have a dental emergency and book you in for same-day broken tooth repair.
A broken tooth can occur anytime, regardless of how healthy your teeth are. However, whether you are dealing with a dental emergency depends on the extent of the damage.
Most chips and cracks do not require a visit to an emergency dentist, and broken tooth repair can be delayed until a regular appointment is available. Typically any pain associated with the injury can be eased with over-the-counter pain medication while waiting to see a dentist.
However, a broken molar is a more severe issue that requires urgent attention. The cause may be a blow to the face or a cavity that has weakened the tooth.
What to do having broken a tooth?
While waiting to see the emergency dentist, rinse your mouth with salt water. Place a clean piece of gauze on the broken tooth and apply pressure to stop the bleeding. You can also take over-the-counter painkillers as and when needed. A cold compress can also be used on the outside of the cheek to reduce any inflammation associated with the injury.
If a tooth has been knocked out, it should be stored in a container with saliva or milk. The tooth should only be handled by its crown to avoid damage to the roots. As for a broken tooth, a knocked tooth is a dental emergency. In many cases, the tooth can be successfully reattached if the patient gets treatment within an hour of the injury occurring.
How does a dentist treat a broken tooth?
Fortunately, modern dentistry provides several treatment options for broken tooth repair.
- Dental bonding – The dentist applies composite resin directly to the damaged tooth during this quick and easy procedure. The tooth-coloured resin is moulded and shaped to provide a natural-looking repair that blends seamlessly into the smile. The dentist uses a blue light to harden the resin.
- Veneers – Porcelain veneers provide a solution for a broken tooth with extensive damage. The veneer covers the front of the tooth’s surface to look identical and even better than the original tooth. A dentist can cover one or more of the teeth with veneers, should the patient want to enhance the appearance of their smile, although the process doesn’t come cheap (The national dental fee survey for 2020 found that, in Australia, a porcelain veneer can cost up to $2,036 per tooth.
- Dental crowns – A crown or cap is another popular broken tooth repair treatment and covers the whole of the visible tooth. Crowns are used to strengthen and protect weakened teeth, restoring functionality and aesthetics.
- Root canal – If the break exposes the tooth’s inner pulp, a root canal may be carried out to clean and disinfect the tooth’s soft tissue and network of nerves. The tooth is then sealed with a dental filling and sometimes covered with a dental crown.
- Dental implants – Should the broken tooth be damaged beyond repair, there may be no option but to extract and replace it with a dental implant. While implants are more expensive than other tooth replacement options, they can last for decades and provide a permanent solution.
Have you broken your tooth?
If you break a tooth, you must call an emergency dentist for same-day treatment to ease pain and prevent further damage. We consider your emergency our emergency, so give us a call on (02) 9630 9996 immediately. Broken tooth repair isn’t as complicated as you might think. We’ll fix your tooth and have you smiling in no time.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
PubMed Central – Dental Emergencies
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1118447/
Smile.com.au: Veneers Treatment Guide
https://www.smile.com.au/dental-treatments/veneers#:~:text=The%20national%20dental%20fee%20survey,up%20to%20%24836%20per%20tooth.