What happens if your molar breaks

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Dental Health. Why and how do teeth break? Teeth can break in the following ways: Biting down on something hard, like ice or a hard food Using your teeth as tools to rip a tag off clothing, to hold items when your hands are full, etc. Can a broken tooth be saved?

Heavily fractured and seriously broken teeth may require more complex treatments, as these problems may be due to a cavity. A large cavity can cause fractures and breaks and, if left, will become extremely painful. Tooth cavities can also cause infections along the exposed gum line and pulp root canal, nerves and connective tissue. In cases such as these, root canal treatment may be necessary. Cracks and breaks can also expose your nerve endings, making the teeth sensitive to hot and cold air and foods.

Got it, thanks! Here are the important things to remember if you break or chip a tooth. Immediately rinse your mouth out with water Stop the bleeding by applying pressure and call for help if the bleeding is excessive If the tooth comes out completely, try to preserve it in milk, saline solution, or water Apply a cold compress to help with pain and swelling Take an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease discomfort and inflammation See a dentist as soon as possible for treatment Rinse Out Your Mouth Immediately after chipping or breaking a tooth, try to rinse your mouth out with warm water to keep the area clean and to clear away any blood or dirt.

Try to Preserve the Tooth If your whole tooth has separated from your mouth, try to locate it as quickly as possible. Apply a Cold Compress A cold compress to the injured area will help alleviate pain and reduce swelling. See Your Dentist As Soon As Possible Seeing your dentist as soon as possible is the most crucial thing you can do after chipping or breaking a tooth. Treatments for Broken or Chipped Teeth There are several ways a dentist can choose to treat a broken or chipped tooth, depending on how severe the damage is.

Here are some of the options your dental professional may consider: Dental Filling — If only a small piece of your tooth has broken off, a tooth filling is often enough to repair the damage.

The hole is filled with a composite resin that hardens and protects the tooth. In cases like these, a dental crown will be used to cap the tooth to protect the sensitive nerves underneath. Root Canal — In some cases, the dental pulp becomes infected when a tooth is broken. When this happens, your dentist will perform a root canal to clear away the infection before placing a dental crown on the tooth.

Dental Veneer — If the broken tooth is in the front of the mouth or another highly visible spot, a porcelain veneer is an excellent option to restore your smile. Dental Implant — Dental implants are quickly becoming the preferred option to replace a missing tooth because they look, feel, and act just like natural teeth.

If your tooth has come away completely or needs to be extracted, a dental implant is an excellent treatment option. Talk to your dentist about potential dental implant risks and to see if your insurance will cover the cost of dental implants. Dental Bridge — Another option for patients who need to have a tooth extracted due to damage is a dental bridge.