What To Do If You Break Your Tooth
Ideally, your teeth should last a lifetime, but sometimes, accidents happen. There’s often nothing you can do to prevent dental trauma. The good news is that if you do sustain an injury, we are here to provide urgent relief. Here’s a guide to help you out if you break a tooth.
What to do if you break your tooth
Accidents often happen when we least expect them. One minute you’re fine and the next you’re on the floor, wondering what on earth happened. Falls, slips, sports injuries and car accidents are common causes of dental injury. If you do get injured, it’s always beneficial to know how to react.
If you break your tooth, it’s a good idea to call your dentist and arrange an emergency appointment. You may be able to see the damage, for example, you may have a large chip, but even if you can’t, it’s wise to get checked out. If you’ve damage the interior of the tooth, this may not be visible, but you might still need treatment.
When you see your dentist, they will probably carry out X-rays and examine your teeth to determine the extent of the damage and work out the best solutions. If you only have a minor chip, there’s nothing to worry about. It is possible to patch chips up using a technique called cosmetic bonding. If you have a fracture, you may need a filling or a crown. Occasionally, when the tooth is broken, the pulp tissue may be affected. This is the living part of the tooth and it contains your nerves and blood vessels. If the pulp is damaged, root canal treatment may be recommended. This procedure is done to remove damaged pulp tissue and replace it with filling material. The root canals are then sealed and a new crown is usually fitted. Treatment aims to strengthen the tooth, but it will also help to reduce the risk of further damage and infection. If you do need treatment, your dentist will explain exactly what is going to happen and how it will benefit you. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions and tell your dentist if you feel nervous or worried. Our team is there to help and support you.
Sometimes, it’s impossible to avoid accidents, but there are some steps you can take to protect your teeth. Always wear a seatbelt, use a mouth guard if you’re playing sport and never try and open bottles or cut labels off using your teeth.