Professional Broken Tooth Repair in Joondalup

When dealing with a broken tooth, knowing when to seek emergency dental care is crucial. Here are some common signs that indicate you may need immediate broken tooth emergency repair:

• Severe Pain
  A persistent or intense toothache, especially when biting or chewing, requires immediate attention. This pain could be due to nerve exposure or damage, which can worsen without prompt treatment.
• Visible Damage
  When a tooth is visibly cracked, chipped, or broken and pieces have fallen out, it’s crucial to seek emergency dental care. Visible damage can affect the appearance of your smile and expose the inner parts of the tooth to infection and further damage.
• Sensitivity
  Sudden sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks or increased sensitivity to sweets can indicate that the inner layers of the tooth are exposed. If not addressed quickly, this exposure can lead to more severe pain. Sensitivity may also make everyday activities like eating and drinking uncomfortable.
• Swelling and Bleeding
  Noticeable swelling in your gums or face or bleeding from the tooth or gums that doesn’t stop are signs of damage or infection. Swelling can indicate a tooth abscess or other serious dental condition that requires immediate care.
• Infection
  The presence of pus or discharge from around a tooth is a clear indication of an infection. Additionally, a bad taste in the mouth or persistent bad breath are signs of an infection. Leaving an infection unaddressed can lead to its spreading to other parts of the body and causing severe health issues. Prompt treatment is essential to manage the infection and prevent complications.
• Loose Tooth
  A tooth that feels loose or is shifting out of place needs urgent attention. Getting immediate care can prevent it from falling out or causing further damage to the surrounding teeth and gums. A loose tooth can result from trauma, gum disease, or severe decay and immediate assessment is required to determine if it can still be preserved.
• Discomfort in Surrounding Areas
  Pain in the jaw, ear, or neck, along with headaches and fever, can signal a more serious problem that requires immediate dental care. These symptoms often suggest that the infection or damage is affecting more than just the tooth, potentially involving the jawbone or surrounding tissues.

If you experience any of these signs or symptoms, we recommend contacting our team at Candlewood Dental Centre right away. Our experienced dentists are available to provide prompt treatment to repair a broken tooth. This way, you can alleviate your pain and prevent further damage to your oral health.

It is not possible for patients to repair their broken teeth without the help of a dental professional. However, patients can take several steps to manage discomfort and protect their damaged teeth as they wait for their appointment. However, these measures are only temporary, and professional treatment should be sought as soon as possible to repair a broken tooth properly.

• Rinse with warm salt water:
  Add a teaspoon of salt to warm water and rinse gently. This helps to clean the affected area, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. Repeat the rinse a few times a day.
• Apply a cold compress:
  To relieve swelling around a broken tooth, hold an ice pack or cold compress against the outside of your cheek. This will help numb the pain and reduce inflammation.
• Cover sharp edges:
  If the broken tooth has sharp edges that irritate your tongue, cheeks, or gums, you can temporarily cover them with dental wax. Temporary filling material, available at most pharmacies, can also be used for this purpose. This helps to prevent further injury to the soft tissues in your mouth.
• Take over-the-counter pain medication:
  To ease discomfort, take over-the-counter medications, following the recommended dosage instructions.
• Avoid hard foods:
  To prevent further damage, stick to soft foods and avoid chewing with the broken tooth. Stay away from hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that could worsen the damage.
• Save the broken pieces:
  If you can, save any pieces of the broken tooth and bring them to your dental appointment. Store them in a clean container with milk or saliva to keep them moist.
• Maintain good dental hygiene:
  Continue to brush your teeth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and floss carefully to keep the broken tooth and surrounding area clean. This will prevent infection and further damage.

While these home remedies can temporarily alleviate symptoms, they should not be substituted for professional dental care. Visiting Candlewood Dental Centre promptly is crucial for a proper assessment and treatment of your broken tooth by our experienced team of dentists.

In most cases, a broken tooth can be effectively restored. However, it still depends on the extent of the damage and how quickly you seek professional restorative care. Here at our clinic, we offer a range of emergency broken tooth repair options to help you regain a healthy and functional smile.

The specific treatment method will depend on various factors, including the tooth’s location, the extent of the break, and the overall health of the tooth and surrounding tissues.

Some common restorative options include:

• Dental bonding:
  For minor chips or cracks, dental bonding can reshape and restore teeth. This involves applying a tooth-coloured resin to the damaged area, which is then hardened using a special light.
• Dental crowns:
  If a large portion of the tooth is broken or has undergone root canal treatment, a dental crown may be recommended. Crowns are custom-made caps that fit over the entire visible portion of the tooth, providing strength, protection, and a natural appearance.
• Veneers:
  Dental veneers can be an effective treatment for front teeth with mild to moderate chips or cracks. These thin, custom-made shells are bonded to the front of the tooth, creating a flawless and natural-looking restoration.
• Root canal treatment:
  A severe break that extends into the tooth’s pulp (the soft inner tissue containing nerves and blood vessels) may require root canal treatment. In this dental procedure, the dentist takes out the damaged pulp and seals the tooth before placing a crown.

An emergency tooth extraction may be needed when a tooth is severely damaged or insufficient healthy tooth structure remains. However, our team at Candlewood Dental Centre Joondalup strives to maintain your natural tooth whenever possible.

The key to an effective restoration is seeking prompt dental care. By addressing a broken tooth quickly, you increase the chances of preserving the tooth and minimising the need for more extensive treatment.

Delaying broken tooth emergency repair can lead to complications that may impact your oral health and overall well-being. When you postpone treatment for a broken tooth, you may face the following consequences:

• Increased pain and discomfort
  A broken tooth can expose the sensitive inner layers of the tooth, including the dentin and pulp, which contain nerve endings. When these areas are exposed to temperature changes, pressure, or even air, it can trigger severe pain and sensitivity.
  
  Delaying treatment allows the nerve to remain exposed, intensifying the discomfort. This can potentially lead to a constant, throbbing pain that disrupts daily life, affects sleep, and makes it difficult to concentrate on tasks.

• Infection
  When a tooth is broken, its protective enamel layer is compromised, creating an opening for bacteria to enter the tooth’s inner structure. If the bacteria reach the pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves, it can cause an infection known as pulpitis.
  
  Left unchecked, the infection can progress to a more serious condition called an abscess, where pus collects at the root tip. Abscesses can cause severe pain, swelling, and fever and even lead to the spread of infection to other parts of the body, including the jaw, neck, and head, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications like sepsis.

• Further damage to the tooth
  Continuing to use a broken tooth for biting and chewing can cause additional damage. As the exposed inner layers of a tooth wear away, they become softer and more vulnerable.
  
  Applying pressure on the weakened tooth can cause the crack or fracture to expand, potentially leading to a complete split of the tooth. In some cases, the damage may become so extensive that the tooth cannot be saved. This situation can require extraction and replacement with a dental implant, partial denture or bridge.

• Gum irritation and inflammation
  The jagged edges of a broken tooth can rub against and irritate the surrounding gum tissue. This constant irritation can lead to gum inflammation, redness, bleeding, and even recession.
  
  As the gums recede, more of the tooth’s root becomes exposed, increasing sensitivity and the risk of decay. Gum recession can also make your smile appear unattractive and cause other dental problems, such as tooth loosening and eventual tooth loss.

• Difficulty eating and speaking
  A broken tooth can make it painful and challenging to bite and chew food properly. This can lead to an unhealthy dietary pattern and nutritional deficiencies.
  
  Additionally, a broken tooth, especially if it’s a front tooth, can affect your speech, causing you to lisp or struggle with proper pronunciation. In turn, this can impact your communication and confidence in social and professional settings.

• Costly and extensive treatment
  Postponing dental care for a broken tooth allows the damage to progress, often requiring more complex and expensive treatments.
  
  What may have been restored with a simple filling or bonding can result in the need for root canal treatment and crown or extraction and tooth replacement. These complex treatments come with a higher financial burden and require more time in the dental chair and a longer recovery period.

• Negative impact on self-esteem
  A visibly damaged tooth, particularly if it’s one of your front teeth, can make you feel self-conscious about your smile. You may find yourself hiding your smile, avoiding social interactions, or covering your mouth when speaking or laughing. This self-consciousness can take a toll on your self-esteem and overall quality of life, affecting your confidence in personal and professional relationships.
  
  To minimise these risks and maintain good oral health, it is essential to seek urgent care for a broken tooth. At Candlewood Dental Centre, we understand the importance of timely dental care and offer efficient broken tooth emergency repair services. We are committed to providing you with high-quality care to alleviate your pain, restore your teeth, and protect your oral health.