Half My Tooth Broke Off
Having a chipped or cracked tooth isn’t always an emergency. With smaller chips especially, you simply set a regular appointment and have it addressed some time in the future. If your tooth is cracked in half or half of your tooth has completely broken off, though, you’ll want to get immediate care.
Half My Tooth Broke Off. What Do I Do?
You may have fallen, had a sports accident, or something else may have happened to cause a break. So, what now? If your tooth is severely damaged, you need to visit an emergency dentist. Not only is your chance of infection higher with a tooth that is half missing, but you’ll also likely be experiencing a lot of pain and bleeding. You don’t want the issue to get any worse than it is.
Search online for emergency dentists in your area. Your insurance may cover the appointment or at least a portion of it, so check with your insurance provider to learn more about coverage. With that said, whether it is covered or not, visit a dentist immediately.
Reducing Discomfort Caused by a Broken Tooth
If you have a broken tooth, consider rinsing your mouth with salt water and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. If you have a minor break, don’t eat any hard foods until the break is addressed. If your tooth is half broken off, don’t worry about eating—get to an emergency dental clinic.
What Happens If You Leave a Broken Tooth?
Leaving a broken tooth can lead to some serious oral health issues. If your tooth is severely broken, you can expect a high level of pain that won’t get much better over time. It may also bleed a lot.
A broken tooth means an opening for bacteria to get in. This can lead to a bad infection that requires root canal treatment or even a tooth extraction. Get your tooth repaired and treated so it doesn’t get infected.
Broken Tooth Repair
If the tooth break is very severe, endodontic surgery may be required to extract the remaining portion. While your dentist will do everything they can to save the tooth, an extraction may be the only option. Depending on the break, your dentist may be able to place a dental crown to restore the tooth. This allows you to maintain the root of your tooth.
If your tooth is extracted, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with your dentist to discuss replacement options. Often this will mean the placement of a bridge or implant.
Contact a Dentist Now
If your tooth is currently severely damaged or even broken in half, contact an emergency dentist right now. If your current dentist performs emergency repairs, reach out to them and let them know what happened so they can give you care instructions and get you in the office as soon as possible. If not, contact an emergency dentist.
Don’t wait around. Call now and follow all of the instructions you are given.