Picture this:
You are chewing on some sweets when you feel a hard piece in your mouth, and it isn’t part of the candy. You realize it’s a piece of your tooth and are not sure what to do.
In most instances, a broken tooth constitutes a dental emergency. Even if it’s just a small crack, you should still schedule a same-day appointment with your dentist to make sure everything is fine.
But, what if your tooth has broken off at the gumline?
Here’s what you should do if that’s the case for you.
Why Did My Tooth Break at the Gumline?
When a tooth breaks under the gumline, it is called Subgingival Fracture. This usually happens due to tooth decay.
Although it’s relatively easy to detect, especially if it occurs as the result of an accident, here’s how to tell if you’ve broken a tooth at the gum line:
- You can feel the missing part with the tongue.
- You taste blood in the mouth as blood vessels can also break.
- You feel the sharp edge of the piece that has broken.
- It can be detected casually, but sometimes there is a need for dentist’s tools if a molar is broken.
- Change of color into dark brown/black can also indicate a broken tooth.
What To Do When You Get a Subgingival Fracture
Determine the Serious the Damage Is
A dental examination will determine how deeply the tooth has broken. Based on this initial assessment, the dentist will determine the best course of treatment. Of course, all of this also depends on how quickly a person visits the dental professional. If it takes too long, the impact can be higher and affect more areas and on a deeper level.
Extrusion
Extrusion is done when the tooth breaks close to the gumline. This technique consists in moving the tooth slowly out of the socket.
Reattach Broken Piece
If the fragment that broke is found, the dentist may be able to reattach it to the tooth. The deeper the tooth breaks, the harder it is to reattach. A root canal can also be needed in the process of reattaching the tooth.
Filling or Crown
If the tooth is broken at the gum line, the dentist might re-contour the gum to expose more of the piece and then to be able to place a crown. This procedure is called crown lengthening. A crown is an artificial tooth that covers the damaged part.
Did You Break a Tooth? Call Us!
A broken tooth, even if it is from the gum line, can still be fixed. If you know or think you might have broken your tooth, get in touch with us and get your consultation and best solution for your needs.
EaDo Family Dental is proud to present itself as a brand-new office dedicated to patient comfort. With an artsy feel, and a modern, industrial design, we want to provide excellent dental care in a chic environment.
We are focused on building personal relationships which make the dental process easier on our patients, something we are also proud of.
Contact us now to schedule your appointment.
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