Broken Tooth Archives - Ryan Perry, DDS

How Some Advanced Dentists Save a Vertically Fractured Tooth

Posted on January 8, 2020 by AllSmiles.

I’m running out of time. After splitting my tooth, I’ve been to three dentists in the last three days who say the only option is to extract it. I want to save my tooth. How can I find a dentist willing to give it a try and not just remove the tooth? How do I know that it can’t be saved? Thanks. Daniel from Tulsa, OK

Daniel,

Sometimes it is possible to save a fractured tooth. But the tooth needs immediate attention. If a dentist can save the tooth can be saved, the fracture must be treated within a day or two. Although you didn’t tell us when your tooth was fractured, if it’s been at least three days, it’s too late to save the tooth.

Saving a Tooth with a Vertical Fracture

If the fracture is vertical, some advanced dentists have had success with the following technique:

Remove all debris from the fracture
Fit the pieces of the tooth together precisely
Apply bonding to the surface
Prepare the tooth for a crown and keep the segments immobile
After the tooth is stable, determine if endodontic treatment is needed
Protect the tooth with a durable dental crown
Schedule regular checkups to ensure the tooth is stable and not infected

For details, read a reprint of the article, Restoration of fractured teeth—a long-term study on mynewsmile.com. Although it may be too late to save your tooth, it’s not too late to share the research with the dentists you visited.

After Extraction

No form of tooth replacement is as effective as a natural tooth, but a dental implant is a good substitute. Implant components mimic natural teeth. The artificial root is a stable foundation for a new dental crown.

Entrust your extraction to a skilled general dentist or oral surgeon and find a dentist who has completed extensive post-graduate training in dental implants. You’ll get long-lasting results that look natural.

Dr. Ryan Perry, a Baton Rouge dentist, sponsors this post.

Does my son’s broken tooth need an emergency dentist?

Posted on January 31, 2019 by alliotte.

My son slid into third base and was hit by the ball last night. The force of the ball broke one of his upper front teeth and cracked the other. We took him to the dentist today, but he indicated he could not make an appointment to fix the problems for several months. I want it fixed now and am wondering if we should see an emergency dentist. Is this necessary, or would it be best to wait for the tooth to lose its sensitivity?

Thank you,
Rachel

Rachel,

Your son should be seen by an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Waiting will do you/him no good. If you have have piece that broke off, that will be even better. If you can find an emergency dentist who is also an expert cosmetic dentist, that would be the best case scenario. You don’t want too much time to pass, but you also need to be sure you find someone who has the experience to remedy this issue. You see, you want the broken tooth to look good and natural, and match the other front tooth. However, if you no longer have the broken piece of the tooth, direct dental bonding would be the next best method, depending on where the damage is on the other tooth.

This post is brought to you by Baton Rouge emergency dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Broken tooth must be pulled – do I need an oral surgeon?

Posted on May 31, 2011 by kkzeluff.

I lost a filling in one of my molars a few years ago. I lived with the missing filling for quite a while, but then the tooth broke, and it got too painful to ignore. I had a root canal treatment done, but never went back in for the dental crown placement, because I just can’t handle that much time in a dentist’s office. The temporary filling fell out about six months later, and I learned to work around the tooth, but recently it has become really painful again. I know I have to go back in, but I can hardly stand the thought of it.

I saw a dentist and he told me the tooth is infected, and that there really isn’t enough of it to save. He said that it has to be pulled, and that the condition of the tooth means they will have to cut both gum and bone. He said it would be best to have an oral surgeon do this under anesthesia, especially given my anxiety about dental work, but that is just not in my budget. He said he COULD do the procedure under a local, but that an oral surgeon would be best.

My question is, can most general dentists competently handle this type of procedure? I don’t want to spend all that extra money to go to an oral surgeon, but every time I think about getting it done my heart pounds and my hands sweat and I feel sick. Pretty intense. I think I’ll calm down some if I think my dentist is really competent to handle this.

William in Orlando

Dear William,

It sounds like you really need to a have a candid conversation with your dentist. Either he is comfortable doing the procedure, or he isn’t, and it sounds as if he will be honest with you about that. It is also encouraging that he has acknowledged that your fear needs to be considered and handled with compassion. You could also consider seeking the services of a dentist that does sedation dentistry, which they may also advertise as gentle dentistry. Very often, the use of nitrous oxide with an oral sedative is the right combination to reduce anxiety and control pain so that the appointment is much less traumatic.

This blog post courtesy of Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Perry.