Broken teeth : treatments
Dear patient ! We are now offering regular blog posts, in order to anticipate your needs for quality information on dental care for children as well as adults! This article dedicated to broken teeth is not exhaustive! And, yes there is so much to say on this subject!
In consultation we will take the time to answer all your questions as parents while taking care of your child so that his or her experience at the dentist remains pleasant and above all fun! Our adult service can also take care of your broken teeth problem. We are here to listen to you!
Why does a tooth break?
A broken tooth ? It can happen. Although teeth are strong, it is possible for them to crack and fracture (in patients who clench or grind their teeth) and break under certain circumstances :
- Chewing on something hard.
- Following a traumatic event (fall, blow, accident).
- Due to decay that weakens the tooth from the inside, making it fragile.
- In the case of heavily reconstructed teeth that can no longer withstand daily chewing.
If a crack/fracture is small, it may not be painful, whereas a larger break will almost certainly be painful because the nerve may be involved or the dentin is exposed to heat and cold. This pain can be constant or intermittent.
Fortunately, it is possible to find effective solutions for a broken tooth today. The important thing is to make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.
What to do in the case of a broken tooth if a fragment has come loose and we have recovered it
Your dentist is the only one to tell if the vital part of the tooth is damaged and if a root canal is necessary. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do:
- Place the broken part of the tooth in a glass containing milk or a salt solution.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water or water and salt.
- If bleeding occurs, apply sterile gauze and keep pressure on the area for at least 10 minutes, or until the bleeding stops.
- Apply a cold compress to the cheek or lips at the broken tooth to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
- If pain occurs, take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Broken tooth: what are the solutions of Rhône Dental Clinic in Geneva
Depending on the severity and type of break, the dentist will opt for a different treatment. In cases where the recovered fragment can be repositioned, this solution will be chosen. In some aesthetic cases, dental veneers can be used to cover the visible damage. In other cases, the broken tooth is filled with biocompatible materials. If the breakage occurs on a visible tooth, the technique used is bonding. The dentist applies a tooth-colored resin that can repair chipped or cracked teeth.
On the other hand, it is necessary to give the tooth more strength, a crown will be used. In more serious cases, a root canal may be necessary.
When the crack is deeper and the nerve is exposed, root canal therapy and subsequent reconstruction, including prosthetic reconstruction, is the only solution to eliminate the pain.
A broken tooth can be very distressing, especially for a child! I put all my expertise at stake so that the treatment happens quickly and without pain of any kind!
