Broken tooth treatment

Broken tooth treatment 

Despite the fact that teeth are extremely strong, they can fracture, chip or break. Most breakage is caused because of trauma, which could be from biting down or chewing on something extremely hard, or from a violent blow to the face. Teeth that are weakened by cavities can also chip or fracture relatively easily as compared to healthy teeth.


The breaking off of a large piece of tooth can be painful as the nerve inside the tooth can get damaged.

There are a few basic guidelines that you could follow in case of breakage. Save the pieces or fragments of broken tooth and rinse them, as your dentist may be able to salvage them if the break is clean. Wash out your mouth with warm water, and if there is bleeding in the area apply a gauze till the bleeding stops. In case of swelling and pain you can also apply a cold compress. Depending on the severity of the break and whether it was caused by decay and if there is any danger to the nerve, your dentist will decide the next course of action. In cases of damage to the nerves, most adults would require root canal treatment. In children however the nerve can be saved if the dentist is able to address the problem immediately. If only the outer portion of the tooth is damaged it can be repaired with filling. More serious breakages could require a crown.