What To Do If You Have a Broken Tooth

May 2, 2018 | Uncategorized

Got a broken tooth? Wondering what your next step is? Good question. A broken tooth can also be called a chipped tooth, a cracked tooth and a fractured tooth. If you happen to have any of these tooth conditions then you are definitely going to need to visit an experienced dentist for repair. While there are a few different ways that someone can experience a broken tooth, one of the more common reasons includes tooth decay. When tooth decay is present it makes the tooth much weaker, making it more prone to breakage. Another reason for why someone may have a broken tooth is due to blunt force trauma, which usually stems from playing contact sports or an accident.

According to the American Association of Endodontists, it is necessary to see your dentist as soon as possible after a tooth injury in order to keep it from worsening.

Is a broken tooth an emergency?

If the broken tooth is caused by tooth decay then it is not normally considered to be an emergency situation. Although, it is extremely important to address a broken tooth as soon as absolutely possible so that it does not get worse. If the broken tooth is caused by blunt force trauma, then this is normally considered to be an emergency situation. When someone experiences a broken tooth due to being hit in the mouth it is possible that they may have other injuries, too. This may make it necessary for them to see not only a dentist as soon as possible to address their broken tooth issue, taking a trip to the emergency room is also highly recommended for a thorough evaluation.

What to do for a broken tooth

So what is it that one must do when they have a broken tooth? The first thing is to not panic. A broken tooth can be fixed by an experienced dentist. The next step is to determine the severity of the broken tooth. How much of the tooth has broken off? Is the person experiencing any pain? If there was any immediate pain when the tooth broke then making an appointment to see an experienced dentist as soon as possible is necessary.

If the broken tooth has any dark or red areas on it then this is considered to be a dental emergency. Making an appointment with an experienced dentist within 24 hours is highly recommended in order to address this broken tooth emergency.

If the broken tooth has any yellow or brown areas on it then a dental appointment needs to be made as soon as absolutely possible. Within two days is suggested, with one day being a better time frame.

If only a small piece of the tooth has broken off and there is no pain experienced then making an appointment at one’s earliest convenience is recommended. This should be done within a few weeks for the absolute best results.

Call our Leawood, KS, dental office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

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