Half My Tooth Broke Off
A blow to the face or even biting into a hard food item can result in a broken tooth, also known as dental trauma. The consequence of this goes beyond aesthetics, as it directly affects essential oral health functions such as chewing and speaking. If you've broken or cracked a tooth, regardless of the reason for the injury, the good news is that it can be repaired, but to do so, it's important to seek help from a dentist as soon as possible.
Why do teeth break?
No matter how strong teeth are, they break, and this doesn't only happen in childhood or adolescence, when falls and accidents during play are more common. In adulthood, certain situations increase the likelihood of tooth fractures:
- Cavities;
- Bruxism;
- Poor positioning of the dental arch;
- Domestic and traffic accidents;
- Trauma and blows;
- Practice of contact sports;
- Root or crown breakage.
Tooth broken due to decay:
When a tooth is in contact with bacteria for too long due to poor oral hygiene, it loses minerals, which causes it to deteriorate, also known as tooth decay. This demineralization weakens the teeth, and one of the consequences is precisely tooth fracture. Cavities are the main cause of tooth breakage.
What to do when a tooth breaks?
The first few hours after an accident that causes a tooth to break in half are crucial for successfully repairing it. Therefore, stay calm and see a dentist as soon as possible.
If your tooth is broken in half, find the broken piece, rinse it with running water, and then place it in a pH-neutral solution, such as saline solution or milk. Rinse with salt water or use mouthwash to clean the affected area. If you cannot find the broken piece, perform the prophylaxis anyway.
Tooth broke off at the gum
In cases where the fracture is large, especially when it extends beyond the gum line, and the dentist cannot reattach the tooth, it is necessary to extract what remains to relieve pain and reduce the risk of infection.
Minor tooth loss
If you have suffered a minor, hard-to-notice injury, see a dentist so they can polish it and create a smooth surface, preventing it from affecting other teeth.
Treatments for broken teeth
Tooth decay is responsible for the majority of broken teeth.
Only a dentist can determine the best treatment to repair a broken tooth. To do this, they need to consider the extent of the damage, which part broke, and how the accident happened. Based on this, the following procedures can be carried out:
- Polishing: When the damage is considered minor, with the loss of a small fragment, the dentist performs tooth grinding (polishing) to eliminate sharp edges and restore the original shape.
- Restoration: When the lesion is considered small or medium-sized, treatment involves restoring the tooth, that is, recreating it by filling the lost part with resin to restore its normal shape and function.
- Extraction: If the tooth is too severely compromised, it might need to be extracted. Extraction is usually a last resort.
In Conclusion
If your tooth broke in half, please know that it is important to get treatment as soon as possible. A tooth that has broken in half can cause many complications to your oral health. If your tooth broke in half, contact us today, and we will get you in for a consultation.