Chipped or Broken Tooth

Teeth can chip, fracture or break as result of trauma. A chipped or broken tooth can also occur from biting down or an accident. The level of discomfort or pain partially depends on the size of the fractured tooth.

Deeper fractures can be painful because the damage extends to the nerve inside the tooth. Pain from fractures may be constant or may come and go. Many people feel pain when they chew because the food causes the crack in the tooth to gets wider, but once the pressure is released, the crack closes again. Larger fractures may cause a portion of the tooth to break off.

What you can do:

• Save the pieces. If the break was relatively clean, your dentist will be able to cement the tooth back together as a temporary measure.
• Rinse your mouth well with warm water.
• If an area is bleeding, apply a piece of gauze to the area for a few minutes or until the bleeding stops.
• Apply a cold compress to the cheek or lips over the broken tooth. It can help reduce swelling and relieve pain.
• If you can’t get to our dentist right away, cover the broken surface of tooth that is in your mouth with temporary dental cement available at most pharmacies.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
• If you must eat, eat soft foods and avoid biting down on the broken tooth.

There are many possible treatments for broken teeth depending on the severity of the break.  If the break has affected only the outer part of the tooth, our dentist may be able to repair the damage with a filling.

The most serious breaks are those that damage the nerve. In making and placing a crown, your dentist probably will need to do a root canal treatment to remove the damaged nerve and blood vessels.

Call  Urgent Dental Care  at 314-423-0000 for an appointment.