It can be quite frightening to have a dental emergency and when this happens, sometimes you can draw a blank on what you need to do next. In this article, we will look at what you need to do when you break or chip a tooth which can happen due to a fall, trauma, impact, biting into hard food etc.
You have to assess the situation first. Consider the extent of damage. The severity of a broken or chipped tooth can vary. You may have a minor chip or it can be a major fracture. You have to understand the seriousness so that you can decide on what to do next. You can use warm water to gently rinse the mouth so that you can clean the area and remove any debris. You can prevent any infection this way and see the damage more effectively. If there is any bleeding, you can apply a piece of clean gauze to the site. You need to bite down on this for about 10 minutes. Checkwhether the bleeding has stopped and if it hasn’t, you will need to do this for a little bit longer. And if bleeding persists, you will need to seek immediate medical attention. If you can find the broken pieces of the tooth, you can use water to rinse them and then have them stored in a container of saline solution or milk. You can also use saliva for this. You can bring these pieces to the SD dental Redland Bay so they can see if the pieces can be attached again.
There will be pain and inflammation at the site and you can use over-the-counter pain relief medication for this. For the swelling to go down, you can apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek. There are some temporary measures you can do if the damaged tooth has sharp edges. This can cut or irritate your cheeks and tongue. To prevent this, you can use dental wax or sugar free wax to cover these edges. You have to avoid chewing on the side of your mouth with this broken tooth. You have to contact your dentist as soon as possible so that an emergency appointment can be scheduled. You have to describe the injury in detail so that your case can be prioritised at the clinic.
There are some long term solutions for a broken or chipped tooth as well. The right treatment will be determined by the dentist. Dental bonding is one such method where tooth coloured resin will be applied to the area so that it matches the colour of the tooth and it can be shaped to match the natural tooth contours. It can be hardened using a special light. If your front teeth are broken or chipped, veneers can be used so that they can provide an aesthetic solution. These are thin porcelain shells that cover the front surface of the teeth. If the damage is severe, a dental crown will be used.
