Tooth Accidentally Broke or Fell Out? Here's Your Survival Guide
Accidentally breaking or losing a tooth can happen to anyone, whether from a fall, a car accident, or a direct hit to the mouth.
It’s a situation no one wants to face, and it can be incredibly stressful and unsettling. But knowing how to stay calm and take the right steps can make all the difference.
In this guide, you'll learn how to handle these emergencies and increase the chances of saving your tooth.
1. What to Do If a Piece of Your Tooth Breaks Off
2. What to Do If Your Tooth Falls Out
3. Types of Tooth Trauma and Their Treatments
What to Do If a Piece of Your Tooth Breaks Off
If a piece of your tooth breaks off, your dentist may be able to reattach it, as long as the damage isn’t too severe. So if this happens, stay calm and don’t lose hope.
Here’s what to do:
- Find the broken piece of your tooth.
- Handle it carefully and place it in a container filled with either milk or your own saliva.
- Research shows that storing tooth fragments in saliva or milk keeps them more viable and helps them bond better during treatment than being kept dry.
- Visit your dentist immediately to see if the piece can be successfully reattached.
What to Do If Your Tooth Falls Out
When a tooth is completely knocked out of its socket, time is of the essence. You must see your dentist immediately to save and re-implant the tooth. The longer you wait, the lower your chances of saving it.
In the meantime, here’s what you should do:
- Check if the tooth is permanent or a baby tooth.
- If it's your child's baby tooth, do not try to reinsert it, as this can damage the developing adult tooth underneath.
- If it's a permanent (adult) tooth—whether yours or your child’s—find it and pick it up by the crown (the white part). Avoid touching the root to prevent damaging the healthy ligaments and living cells.
- If the tooth is dirty, briefly rinse it under cold water. Next, you have three options:
- 1. You can gently place the tooth back in its socket.
- 2. Store it in a container with milk or saliva.
- 3. Place the tooth between your cheek and back teeth (if possible).
- In any case, visit your dentist as quickly as possible, ideally within an hour of the accident, to increase the chances of successful re-implantation.
Types of Tooth Trauma and Their Treatments
Teeth are designed to handle significant stress and force, especially during activities like chewing. However, when subjected to extreme force beyond their limits, teeth can crack, break, or even be completely knocked out of their bone support.Front teeth are more exposed to trauma and accidents than back teeth, due to their position at the forefront of the mouth. As a result, they are more likely to take the hardest hits.
Trauma fractures are typically horizontal, extending across the width of the tooth, and can vary in severity depending on the impact. Here are the different types of dental trauma:
Enamel Fracture
This is the mildest form of dental injury, affecting only the outer layer of the tooth, known as the enamel. Since it doesn't penetrate deeper, it usually causes no pain or sensitivity and may not require any treatment. However, your dentist might smooth out any rough edges or use a tooth-colored resin to fill the crack, enhancing the appearance and preventing future damage.
Enamel-Dentin Fracture
In this type of fracture, both the enamel and dentin (the tooth’s middle layer) are damaged. Since dentin is more sensitive, you may experience pain or discomfort when exposed to hot, cold, or sweet stimuli. To restore the tooth and protect the pulp (the innermost layer) from infection, your dentist may need to place a filling or a crown.
Enamel-Dentin-Pulp Fracture
This type of fracture is more severe, as it exposes the pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels. You may experience intense pain and bleeding from within the tooth. Your dentist will likely need to perform a root canal treatment to remove the damaged pulp and seal the tooth. Afterward, a filling or crown will be placed to restore and protect the tooth.
Horizontal Root Fracture
A horizontal root fracture occurs below the gum line, affecting the root of the tooth. You might notice the tooth becoming loose, shifting, and bleeding from the gum line, with tenderness when pressing or chewing.
Since the root is not visible, your dentist will likely need to take an X-ray to diagnose the injury. Depending on the crack's location and severity, your dentist may stabilize the damaged tooth using tooth splinting. In some cases, a root canal treatment or extraction might be required.
The Tooth Has Fallen Out Completely
This is the most extreme situation, where the tooth is entirely displaced from its socket. The success of re-implantation largely depends on how long the tooth has been outside the mouth; the longer it has been out, the lower the chances of saving it.
It’s crucial to follow the previous recommendations: clean the tooth briefly if necessary and keep it moist in milk or saliva if you cannot re-implant it yourself.
Visit your dentist as soon as possible, ideally within an hour. During this time, the tooth’s ligaments are still viable, and there is a good chance they can reattach to the bone.