Can my broken tooth be saved?

A missing, cracked or broken tooth can often cause problems that are far worse than just a cosmetic concern. A broken tooth often causes pain, and if left untreated, can lead more serious oral health issues, including risk of infection or damaging the nerve (which would result in needing root canal treatment).

But the question of whether or not your broken tooth can be saved will depend on how severely it has been damaged and how quickly you visit your dentist for treatment.

How to fix a missing/knocked out tooth

If your tooth has been knocked out by a sporting incident or just by biting something too hard, but the tooth itself is not actually broken, you can attempt to save it before visiting the dentist.

Start by holding the tooth by the crown (visible part of the tooth) and gently rinsing any dirt or debris away from the root. As soon as possible, we recommend placing your tooth in a small cup of milk to preserve it, encourage cell growth and minimise the risk of it dying.

The sooner the tooth can be reinserted in your mouth, the better chance that it can be saved, so contact your emergency dentist immediately.

Broken tooth due to normal wear

If the tooth, itself, breaks from normal use or chewing, it should be reinserted as soon as possible as bacteria is likely to deteriorate it if it’s exposed. You should visit your dentist straight away, even if the broken tooth is not yet painful.

Broken tooth due to trauma

If your tooth breaks from trauma to the mouth, then they way that it is treated immediately after the trauma can affect the long-term prognosis of the tooth. Again, saving it will require an emergency dentist appointment.

Restorative Treatments for your broken tooth

If part of your broken tooth or your entire broken tooth cannot be saved, there are a range of advanced restorative treatments to restore your smile and functionality.

Dental Fillings

If only a small piece of your tooth enamel has been chipped off, then a majority of your tooth can be saved with a composite resin tooth filling.

Also known as white fillings, composite resin fillings are very popular because they’re made to mimic the natural colour of your teeth. They are aesthetically pleasing, affordable and a relatively quick process.

Dental Crowns

If a large piece of your tooth breaks off, some of it can be saved with a dental crown. This involves capping your tooth with a crown made from either porcelain or ceramic. They are made to look and perform like your natural teeth, and how long they last will depend of the effectiveness of your oral hygiene routine.

Dental Veneers

Veneers are used to treat cosmetic concerns, including a broken tooth. Veneers cover the visible face of your teeth with a thin layer of porcelain ceramic or composite resin.

A porcelain veneer is a tooth shaped “shell” that is custom-made to fit over the face of your teeth, whereas a composite veneer is applied to the surface of your teeth as a paste.

Root Canal Treatment

If the crack in a broken tooth is large enough to expose the nerves and blood vessels, bacteria from the mouth can enter and cause infection. In this case, root canal treatment is used as an attempt to save it.

Root canal treatment does tend to send shivers down patient’s spines, however, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial medicines are always put inside the tooth to help stop inflammation and infection.

A dental crown is then placed on top for extra protection.

If you have a missing, cracked or broken tooth, your best bet at saving it is visiting an emergency dentist immediately.

Parkview Dental Practice is your trusted emergency dentist providing quality treatments with long-term results. We can provide late-night appointments upon request. To book an emergency appointment, please call (07) 5443 9055.