About Restoring a Broken Tooth

Teeth are what give shape and beauty to your face. So it makes sense that you need to take care of your teeth. If one of your teeth does break or crack accidentally you should get to a dentist as quickly as possible in order to try and save the tooth. If you are able to find the piece that has broken off, keep it in a cup of milk or within saliva until you reach the hospital or dental office where they can safely guard that part of the tooth. You should try and get to the dentist within 3 hours for the best possible chance of keeping your tooth.

As for the part of the tooth that remains, if any, in your mouth, it is important to stop the bleeding by gently rinsing the area and placing gauze over the expose area and biting down and creating enough pressure to stay the bleeding. You can also apply an ice pack to the outside of the mouth where the tooth that is affected is to help with both bleeding and pain. Once this has been done and you think the area is stable that you want to rush to your dentist or nearest hospital emergency room.

At the hospital or dentist office the doctor will examine the tooth nerves of the broken tooth. If the nerves are damaged then a root canal might be the only solution to restore your broken tooth. If the tooth is cracked or broken clean through then you will most likely loose the tooth altogether and have to choose between and implant or bridge to replace it.

If possible, your dentist will fix your teeth with a filling or bond material that would affix the piece of the tooth that broke off with the piece left in your mouth. To bond the broken tooth the dentist will apply a bonding material to the rough tooth and then applies the adhesive along with the bonding material. The broken off piece of the tooth would then be placed in its proper place. There is a substance that is placed over the tooth to help it stay attached. You have to keep it in place for 15 days and shouldn’t use that tooth for biting harder substances until it is adhered very well to its position. Then after one month, a x-ray will be taken to see the full details about your tooth and make sure it is properly connected. They want to make sure the root of the tooth is alive and well an as long as it is there shouldn’t be any additional issues or problems.

In conclusion, you should be very careful while playing. If you play contact sports or are concerned about your teeth you can wear tooth guards when participating in sporting activities.