You went out with some friends and decided to play a little mini golf. You’re laughing and having a great time. As your best friend draws back to hit the ball into the windmill lighthouse, the shot goes wild. Suddenly before you have a chance to duck out of the way, the ball comes flying and hits you square in the mouth. Ouch! After recovering from the initial shock of the blow you feel a sharp edge on one of your teeth. Your tooth is broken…. Now what do you do?

Well, unfortunately a broken tooth isn’t something that you can just “fix” with an at home remedy. A broken tooth requires the skilled work of a dentist to restore its integrity. However, there are some pretty critical things you will need to do immediately afterwards to help the situation before you pay your dentist an unplanned visit.

A Step by Step after you bust your tooth

  1. Rinse your mouth out with warm water. Be careful not to use water that is cold or hot. The break in your tooth may have exposed some nerve endings and will send a very unpleasant shock of pain through your mouth with extreme temperature changes.
  2. Apply pressure to any bleeding areas in your mouth. You can use a piece of gauze or even a tea bag. Do this for at least 10 minutes. If bleeding continues with the same intensity, consider a trip to the ER for possible stitches.
  3. Ice it. Apply to swollen areas on your lips or cheeks to help minimize swelling and some pain.
  4. Take some over the counter pain meds! A broken tooth is no joke and hurts like a son of a gun. No need to suffering any more than necessary.
  5. Temporary aid. If it’s going to be a little bit before you are able to see your dentist you’ll need to make a quick trip to your local drug store. Most stores carry temporary dental cement. Apply it to the broken area of the tooth until your dental appointment.

What does the dentist do?

  1. Bonding – For chipped or cracked teeth a dentist will often go with a composite bonding for repairs. They roughen up the surface of your tooth a bit more, apply a conditioning liquid, and then form the putty over top and sculpt it to restore the shape again.
  2. Crowns – If your tooth is badly chipped, you may need a crown. A crown is made of porcelain and placed over your damaged tooth. It will be created in a lab and attached with the aid of anesthesia. This will allow your tooth to be able to withstand bite pressure again without pain.
  3. Implants – Sometimes when you break a tooth, the entire tooth may be knocked out or the majority of it causing the tooth to die. In this case you might need a dental implant. You will need to undergo surgery to have titanium screws placed in your jaw to act as anchors for the new tooth to go over top and become a new permanent feature in your smile.