Emergency Dentist

Tips From an Emergency Dentist on Handling Broken Tooth

For any dental emergency, you should call an emergency dentist immediately. Most dentists reserve time in their schedules for emergency patients. After calling the dentist, you should provide as much detail as you can about your condition or problem. If an accident happens when the dental office is closed, visit your local emergency room.

An emergency dentist and a broken tooth

Dentists often deal with a variety of dental emergencies. One common problem is a broken tooth. A tooth may break because of a forceful impact or dental problems like lost fillings or large cavities. Regardless of the cause, a person should visit a dentist either immediately or as soon as possible, depending on how badly the tooth is broken. A broken tooth can range from the complete breakage of an area, which can leave the pulp and dentin exposed to a chip in the enamel exterior.

Tooth enamel has no blood vessels or nerves so enamel loss may not cause pain. But when the pulp or dentin is exposed to air, the tooth usually hurts. Over time, bacteria can end up infecting an exposed pulp, which can cause more pain, sensitivity to changes in temperature and discoloration of the remaining enamel. A person may experience pain from the injury that made the tooth break, whether or not the pulp or dentin is exposed. Here are some tips for handling a broken tooth.

How to deal with a broken tooth

All the broken pieces should be gathered. They should be put in a clean, dry container. These pieces are supposed to be taken to the dentist. The remaining tooth should be rinsed with warm water. This will help remove dirt as well as debris.

If the problem is due to an injury, a cold compress should be applied to the outside of the mouth, lip or cheek near the broken or chipped tooth. It will help ease pain and keep any swelling down. A person should then call the dentist to schedule an appointment. If a person sees yellow dentin or red, exposed pulp, the dentist should be contacted immediately.

People can benefit from avoiding hard foods. The sharp edges of the remaining tooth may also be covered with dental wax or chewing gum. This will help protect the gums. In some cases, a broken tooth may not be the only complication from an injury to the mouth. A severe impact can also break the jaw. If someone is not able to bring the lower and upper jaw together when closing the mouth, visiting a dentist or going to the emergency room right away is ideal.

Takeaway

Accidents can happen at any time. But knowing what to do when an accident happens can help prevent a problem from becoming worse or even save the tooth. The appropriate treatment for broken teeth depends on the extent of the damage. If your tooth breaks, you should see an emergency dentist as soon as possible. The dentist will be able to determine the right treatment option for your condition.

Request an appointment here: https://www.mytotaldentistry.com or call McCarthy Dentistry at (740) 546-5178 for an appointment in our Marietta office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.

Recent Posts

Preventative Dental Care Visits With Your Dentist To Monitor Oral Health

Preventative dental care is an important necessity when it comes to taking care of your teeth and gums. Your dentist is your primary defense in dental health. Early detection and treatment of any oral issue are vital in keeping your original teeth looking healthy and staying strong the longest.Be sure to schedule a dental checkup…

Preventative Dental Care: Specialized Treatments

Preventative dental care refers to all the ways you can maintain the health of your teeth and gums, which will ultimately help prevent more severe issues down the road. One great way to provide this type of care is through treatments, including scaling and root planing, periodontal therapy, and laser gum surgery. The following are…

Preventative Dental Care - Picking The Right Toothbrush And Toothpaste

Preventative dental care involves keeping up with routine dental visits and recommendations, and it requires you to take an active role in your oral hygiene. Failure to do so can lead to plaque buildup and an increased likelihood of tooth decay, gum, tooth disease, and worse. The ADA recommends regularly flossing and brushing your teeth…

Preventive Dental Care - Proper Brushing

Many things go into good preventative dental care. One of the most important is brushing your teeth, but it's not something that people always do correctly. Today, we will talk about brushing your teeth correctly and why it's so crucial in preventative dental care.First, you need to use an actual toothbrush. There are many options…

Dr. McCarthy

Share
Published by
Dr. McCarthy

Recent Posts

Preventative Dental Care Visits With Your Dentist to Monitor Oral Health

Preventative dental care is an important necessity when it comes to taking care of your…

1 day ago

Preventative Dental Care: Specialized Treatments

Preventative dental care refers to all the ways you can maintain the health of your…

2 days ago

Preventative Dental Care – Picking the Right Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Preventative dental care involves keeping up with routine dental visits and recommendations, and it requires…

1 week ago

Preventive Dental Care – Proper Brushing

Many things go into good preventative dental care. One of the most important is brushing…

1 week ago

Preventative Dental Care: Oral Cancer Screening

Screening for oral cancer is an important part of preventative dental care. Unfortunately, oral cancer…

2 weeks ago

FAQs About Oral Appliance Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious health condition that you should never ignore.

2 weeks ago