What do I do if a Front Tooth Gets Broken?

Very few accidents quite match the trauma of breaking a front tooth. It is not only painful but affects your ability to freely talk and even eat. The embarrassment that comes from an unpleasant smile together with the eating impairment really affects the quality of life you lead and it is imperative to get immediate medical help. So, what should you do in case of a broken front tooth? Can a broken front tooth be replaced?

There is very different advice depending on the size of the fracture and the age of the person, so, let’s break it down.

Baby Tooth (Child)

If it is just chipped then as long as your child is comfortable, we may do nothing. Top front baby teeth are usually ready to come out at age 6 to 7 years. Bottom front baby teeth are usually ready to come out between the ages of 5 to 7 years.

Questions

1. These are the things I need you to check
2. How old is the child?
3. Does the child need Panadol?
4. Can she bite together normally and with no pain?
5. Can she eat without complaining?
6. Is the tooth loose?
7. What was the direction of the force that broke the tooth?

Please take a picture and send it to me or arrange a teleconference.

Permanent Tooth (Child to Young Adult)

The adult (permanent) teeth do not appear in the mouth before 6 years of age. Because the nerve of the tooth in a permanent tooth in a child can be very large, small fractures can cause big problems. These are the questions I will ask you.

1. Is it ½ of the tooth, ¼ of the tooth or less?
2. Is the gum bleeding?
3. Does the tooth look like it is still in the correction position?
4. What was the direction of the force that broke the tooth?
5. Can you see a pink dot in the fracture area of the tooth?
6. Is the tooth sore to touch?
7. Can you put your teeth back together normally?

TIP: Keep away from really hot, really cold or sweet or acidic foods. They will make it more sensitive. Most of the time I will want to see you to put a cover over and protect the nerve of the tooth.

Permanent Tooth (Adult)

If an adult tooth breaks and you are over 30 years of age if maybe more of an aesthetic issue rather than something that will affect the long-term viability of the tooth. It is of course quite distressing. I am available for emergency appointments to help you out, so don’t despair.

• If it is a large piece of tooth, please keep it. We can often use this piece to make it easier for us to reconstruct the tooth or sometimes we can re-bond the piece for a very aesthetic solution.
• Keep the piece of tooth safe in a small container or on a piece of sticky tape if it is quite small.
• Keep brushing around the area as normal until I see you
• Avoid hard or chewy foods in the meantime.

Whatever the cause of the breakage, it is imperative to visit your dentist as soon as possible to receive the relevant medical help you need. Left untreated, broken teeth will expose you to infections and will really affect the quality of life you lead because of the aspect of pain and sensitivity associated with these issues.

If you are in the general Sydney NSW area and are suffering from a fractured, loose or convulsed tooth then contact us or call our office ASAP and we will gladly be of help. We offer high quality reconstructive dentistry at an affordable rate and will help you regain your beautiful smile and strong bite.