Can Emergency Dentists Fix Broken Teeth?
The team at Whiteman Dental Associates prides itself on meeting the diverse dental care needs of individuals living in the greater Brookline, MA, and Boston, MA, area. This includes emergency care for dental injuries.
If you’ve suffered a tooth fracture, you may be wondering what you should do. Here, we go over the basics of emergency dental care for damaged teeth. We’ll also look at potential options for treatment.
What to Do If You Break a Tooth
If you break a tooth, here are a few suggested next steps:
- Rinse your mouth
- Stop the bleeding
- Preserve any fragments of the tooth
- Apply a cold compress
- Take pain medication
- Contact a dentist
Following these steps can save your tooth from extraction.
Let’s go into each step a bit more thoroughly:
1. Rinse Out Your Mouth
Rinsing out your mouth with warm water can help keep your mouth clean. This also helps clear away any blood or other matter that may be in the mouth as a result of the oral injury. This is helpful whenever a tooth is broken or has been knocked loose completely.
2. Try to Stop Any Bleeding
If you are bleeding in the mouth, apply gauze or a clean towel to the area. This will help you avoid swallowing excess blood.
If you are severely injured or bleeding excessively, be sure to seek emergency medical attention rather than urgent dental care.
3. Preserve the Broken Part of the Tooth
Preserving a tooth will improve the chances of successful treatment. Be sure to put the tooth or any tooth fragments into a cup of milk or saline solution. If neither is available, a cup of clean water will suffice.
4. Use a Cold Compress
Gently applying a cold compress to your face will help reduce swelling in the affected area and can also minimize your pain and discomfort.
5. Take a Pain Reliever
If needed, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help address the soreness around your jawline and face.
6. Visit a Dentist
See a dentist for urgent treatment as soon as possible. The earlier you see a dentist, the more likely the dentist will be able to save your tooth.
Repairing a Broken Tooth
If your tooth has been chipped or slightly cracked, bonding or a dental filling may be used to address the broken structure.
What if My Broken Tooth Cannot Be Repaired?
For substantial fractures to a tooth, the original structure may need to be replaced. In such cases, inlays, onlays, or dental crowns may be used to replace or restore the broken portion of your tooth.
Will a Severely Broken Tooth Need to Be Extracted?
Sometimes a tooth is so severely damaged that it will need to be removed. Extractions are only recommended when too much of the tooth’s structure has been compromised.
If extraction is necessary, we can discuss tooth replacement options as part of your visit at our Brookline-area office. A dental bridge may be recommended, or we can also use a dental implant to support an artificial tooth.
Contact Our Dental Practice
If your tooth has been chipped or cracked, you may require emergency treatment. Contact our dental care practice online. You can also reach our office by phone at (617) 731-4746.
