When you feel a sudden crack in one of your teeth when chewing something hard, there’s a chance that a tooth may have gotten damaged. Despite teeth being one of the hardest and most resilient parts of the body, they may still crack or break under excessive pressure.
So, does a broken tooth count as a dental emergency? In the majority of the cases, yes. Let’s understand its causes and when to seek emergency dental care.
Why a Broken Tooth is Considered a Dental Emergency
Your teeth play a crucial role in biting, chewing, and bearing the force of your natural bite. If a tooth fractures, whether from biting something too hard or from traumatic dental injuries, it compromises the overall integrity of the tooth.
Even if you do not experience severe pain, leaving a broken tooth untreated can lead to complications, such as pulp exposure, difficulty when biting or chewing food, and risk of infection. A cracked or broken tooth can also make the tooth more vulnerable to harmful bacteria or damage. For this reason, it is important to seek emergency dental care as early as possible.
What to Do When You Break a Tooth
If you suspect you’ve broken a tooth, here are the steps you should take, both to manage symptoms and preserve the tooth until you can get professional care:
- Call your dentist immediately: Let them know what happened and describe your symptoms. They can guide you on appropriate first-aid measures.
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water: This helps remove debris and bacteria gently.
- Control bleeding: If there is bleeding, use clean gauze and apply gentle pressure on the area until it stops.
- Apply a cold compress: Place it on the outside of the affected area for a few minutes if you notice swelling.
- Save any broken fragments: If a piece of the tooth came off, rinse it gently (without scrubbing), store it in milk, and bring it with you to your appointment.
- Take painkillers (if needed): Over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage discomfort.
Treatment Options for a Broken Tooth
Once you are in the dental chair, your dentist will carefully assess how badly the tooth is damaged. Depending on your condition, they may suggest:
- Dental bonding: For minor cracks or fractures, your dentist can apply a tooth-colored resin to restore the broken part of the tooth structure.
- Dental crown: If the damage is more noticeable, a crown may be placed over the remaining tooth structure for long-term protection.
- Root canal therapy: If the pulp has been exposed (the inner part of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels), your dentist may perform an emergency root canal to prevent infection and save the tooth.
- Extraction: In severe cases where the tooth cannot be saved, removing it may be the only option.
Summing Up
A broken tooth definitely counts as a dental emergency. You should seek immediate dental care for it, even if you do not experience any painful symptoms at first. With prompt treatment, your tooth can be saved. In case of a dental emergency, you can reach out to our team at Foundations Family Dentistry. Call us at (281) 251-3070 to schedule an appointment.