A chipped tooth can occur at any time and require emergency broken tooth repair. Even if you don’t have pain in the broken tooth, it’s important to see a dentist as soon as possible because there could be damage you cannot see.
Your tooth enamel is one of the hardest materials in your body, but you can chip, crack, or break it through everyday activities. Chewing on hard substances, playing sports, traumatic accidents, and even tooth decay can lead to a broken tooth.
It’s not a good idea to undertake broken tooth repair at home. Though many sites tout DIY fixes, you need a dentist to repair a broken tooth properly. Taking matters into your own hands could result in an infection or more damage to the tooth resulting in extraction.
Some people don’t experience any pain from a cracked tooth, but that’s not usually the case. A broken tooth can cause extreme pain, especially if the damage reaches the nerves at the center of your tooth.
If you have chipped tooth pain, you may need to take some steps to manage your pain until you see a dentist.
– Try over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen.
– Rinse your mouth with warm salt water.
– Use wax paraffin or sugarless chewing gum to cover any sharp or jagged edges that could cut the soft tissues in your mouth.
– Stick to soft foods and avoid chewing with the broken tooth.
Even if you don’t have pain from a cracked tooth, it’s a good idea to seek out an emergency dentist for a same day appointment if possible.
Seeing a dentist as soon as possible for a chipped or broken tooth could make a big difference. Your dentist can take x-rays to determine how extensive the damage is and develop the best treatment plan.
If you have a cracked tooth, it may be possible to repair the tooth with bonding or dental filling. Your dental team would use an adhesive material followed by a bonding material that can be adjusted to resemble your tooth. The bonding material hardens under a special ultraviolet light.
More severe injuries to the tooth could require a dental crown for support. Your dentist would file down the remaining tooth and attach a crown to protect your nerve and look like your original tooth.
In extreme cases where the root sustains damage, your dentist may need to extract the tooth. They can then replace the missing tooth with a bridge or dental implant to restore your smile.