7 Dos and Don’ts When You Have a Broken Tooth

A broken tooth is a major stressor. Can it be fixed easily? Will the repair be expensive? Do you really have to call the dentist? You will have many questions whether you have a broken molar or crown, a cracked veneer, a damaged filling, or a broken front tooth. Here are dos and don’ts to remember.

1. Do Call the Dentist

It’s simple – call your Bethesda dentist if you break a tooth. Let them tell you what to do next.

2. Don’t Panic

A broken tooth is a serious problem, but it isn’t always an acute issue and might be able to wait a few hours or even until the next day. Let your dentist decide the best course of action and whether emergency dentistry must be applied in this situation.

If you’re also experiencing severe bleeding, try not to panic. The mouth is full of so many tiny blood vessels and a blow to the mouth can make things look much worse than they are. Rely on your dental team to calm you down and make the call about what’s next.

3. Do Be Honest About What Happened

Did you bite down on a piece of ice? Do you grind your teeth ferociously and the enamel chipped away? Did your child hit you in the mouth with a toy? Did you fall during a game? Whatever the reason for your broken tooth, you help yourself by being completely honest with the dentist. Knowing the source of the complication means identifying and carrying out the best repair quickly.

4. Don’t Wait for the Pain to Go Away

Broken teeth do not always cause pain, especially if the break is superficial and not deep. But don’t underestimate the ability of bacteria to infiltrate a tooth and quickly cause decay or infection. You might not have pain now, but you still have a problem. It’s possible to develop an even bigger complication later that requires more advanced and invasive dental care.

5. Don’t Hope the Problem Fixes Itself

Teeth do not repair themselves. Ever. You need a dentist to diagnose the problem if you have a broken tooth, identify what needs to be repaired, and prioritize treatments. The first goal is to stop pain, then stop the problem from worsening, then address the issue at hand.

6. Do Expect to Need a Repair

A broken tooth might feel like a cosmetic problem, but that is only in some cases. To protect your teeth from further deterioration, you may need a composite filling, dental crown, inlay or onlay, or tooth bonding. The most severe cases may call for tooth extraction and later a dental implant.

7. Don’t Worry

Your tooth will not hurt forever, nor will it be unattractive forever. A little patience is required during any type of dental emergency. Once the break has been repaired, cosmetic dentistry can be done to beautify your tooth if necessary. In many cases, dental restorations for broken teeth – like porcelain crowns – are automatically functional and cosmetic repairs.

If you have a broken tooth, contact Bethesda Family Dentistry right away for an emergency dental appointment.