I want to save my teeth » Broken Teeth
Help, I've broken my tooth!
Our teeth are remarkably strong but they can chip, crack (fracture) or break for a number of different reasons, explain the Leicester dentists at Smile Essential. This includes:
- Biting down on something hard
- Trauma – i.e a blow to the face or mouth or from falling over
- Having decay that weakens the tooth
- Grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw
If you have broken your tooth, please contact us straight away for an emergency appointment.
I never liked coming to the dentist before but they always make me feel good…I'm very happy here now. 
The experienced dentists at Smile Essential in Leicester can help restore a broken tooth in a few different ways, depending on the severity of the break.
But first of all, your dentist will determine the cause of the break and whether your tooth's nerve is in danger. A damaged nerve will generally require root canal treatment. The sooner that you visit your dentist the sooner a solution can be found to your broken tooth.
Until you see one of our Leicester dentists you can:
- Rinse your mouth well with warm water.
- Apply pressure with a piece of gauze on any bleeding areas for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. If this doesn't work, use a tea bag with pressure on the area to stop the bleeding.
- Apply a cold pack to the cheek or lips over the broken tooth. This will help reduce swelling and relieve pain.
- If you can't get to your dentist right away, cover the part of the tooth that is in your mouth with temporary dental filling material. Large pharmacies may even stock an emergency temporary filling kit.
- Take over-the-counter pain relief if necessary.
Broken tooth treatments at Smile Essential in Leicester
When a tooth chips or breaks it may not always hurt, especially with minor tooth fractures, but if a large piece of the tooth breaks away it can cause severe pain and discomfort. Pain from a broken tooth can be felt in many different ways depending on how it has broken and may be constant, intermittent or only be felt when chewing or biting onto the tooth as this puts pressure on the tooth.
There are several types of tooth fractures and breaks, each of which requires different treatments. These include:
Minor cracks: These are surface cracks that affect only the outer surface of the tooth, the enamel. Minor cracks rarely need treatment however your dentist may lightly polish the area to smooth any rough areas.
Chips: Minor chips don't always need treatment. Your dentist may suggest repairing the damage with tooth coloured filling material to prevent it from getting worse or to make the tooth look and feel better. If the chip is very small, our Leicester dentists may polish and smooth out the chipped area. If it is larger, a veneer may be the solution.
Cracked tooth: This type of fracture involves the whole tooth, from the chewing surface all the way down to the nerve. The pieces remain in place but the crack gradually spreads. Cracks can sometimes be repaired with filling material but the tooth often needs a crown to prevent the crack from getting worse. If the pulp (nerve and other live tissues) is damaged you may also need root canal treatment.
Serious breaks: These breaks go deep enough to expose the nerve. They almost always cause the tooth to hurt and be sensitive and usually the broken part of the tooth will bleed. You will need root canal treatment to remove the exposed nerve and probably a crown to restore the tooth to normal function so you can eat and chew properly.
Decay-induced break: In this case, the tooth has broken or crumbled because a cavity weakened it from the inside out. Your dentist will evaluate the cavity and recommend the best way to restore the tooth. In some cases, if the decay is extensive and goes down to the bone the tooth may have to be removed. We have solutions for replacing missing teeth from bridges, cosmetic dentures and implants.
