Broken Teeth Information

Teeth are very strong, but for a number of reasons a tooth can chip, break or crack (fracture). Here are some of the ways this can happen:

• Biting down on something hard
• A hard blow to the face or mouth
• Falling down
• Existing cavities (holes) that weaken the tooth
• Old or large amalgam fillings in the mouth that no longer support the remaining enamel of the tooth

Many of us have had experience with a tooth chipping or breaking and you may even find that when this does happen, it may not hurt at all or maybe only slightly. Although you may not feel any pain, your tongue will usually feel a sharp area quite quickly. If you experience a minor tooth fracture, it usually doesn’t cause pain, but if for any reason a large piece of tooth breaks off, it is far more likely to hurt. The nerve inside the tooth may be damaged and we will need to examine the tooth. Extreme discomfort also can happen when nerve endings in the dentine are exposed to air, hot or cold foods and drinks.

Pain from a broken or cracked tooth may be constant or you may find it is a pain that come and goes but is not there all the time. Many people feel pain when they chew because chewing puts pressure on the tooth.

What You Can Do

Cracked (fractured) Teeth. You will be unable to treat a cracked tooth at home. You need to see your dentist. Sometimes the tooth looks fine, other times it hurts only when you eat or when the temperature in your mouth changes (because you drank something hot or cold, for example). If your tooth hurts all the time, this can indicate that you may have a damaged nerve or blood vessels. This is a serious warning sign. A way of knowing if you have a cracked tooth is if it does not hurt to bite on the tooth, but pain occurs when you release the bite.

Broken Teeth If you have a broken tooth, give us a call as soon as possible and we will make an appointment to see you. We can assess if the break has been caused by a cavity, and if the tooth's nerve is in danger. A damaged nerve usually requires root canal treatment. This is a straightforward procedure that we carry out routinely at Dental fx

Things you can do until you see us:

• Rinse your mouth well with warm water.
• If you have an area that is bleeding, apply pressure with a piece of gauze or clean handkerchief to the affected area for about 10 minutes or until you find that the bleeding has stopped.
• Apply a cold pack to the cheek or lips over the broken tooth. (you can use a pack of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel)This will help reduce swelling and relieve pain.
• If you can't get to see us right away, you should be able to buy a temporary dental cement at your local pharmacy and you can use this to cover the part of the tooth that is affected
• Take an over-the-counter pain killer if necessary.

If you are in any doubt about the condition of your teeth please do give us a call on 0141 931 5533