Dental fractures almost always come as a surprise. Perhaps you chipped or cracked a tooth from biting down on something hard. Or maybe you broke it from impact during contact sports or after a fall. If you find you’ve just broken or chipped a tooth, don’t panic. A few simple first aid steps can help protect the area until you can get to a dentist.

Dr. Matthew Keider is an emergency dentist in Winston-Salem with over three decades of experience supporting patients after dental accidents. Broken teeth are some of the most common dental emergencies he sees in his practice. When you call his practice after suffering a cracked or broken tooth, he will direct you on at-home care until he can get you in the office to provide a long-term solution.

Broken Tooth First Aid

After a broken tooth, taking these simple steps can help you manage the situation until you can get to an emergency dentist.

Call a dentist right away. Calling as soon as possible allows a dentist to provide instructions based on your situation until you can get to the office. Dr. Keider is happy to support Winston-Salem patients.

Save any broken pieces. If you can locate the broken piece of the tooth, bring it with you. For a larger fragment, place it in milk if available

Rinse your mouth with warm water. This helps keep the area clean. Do not scrub the broken tooth or poke at the crack.

Control bleeding. If you’re bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops.

Protect the tooth. Avoid biting or chewing on that side. Steer clear of very hot, cold, sweet, sticky, or hard foods if they trigger sensitivity or pain. Cover the tooth with dental wax if a sharp edge is irritating your tongue, cheek, or lips.

Manage pain. Consider over-the-counter painkillers as directed on the label. If you have questions about whether a medication is safe for you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

These steps are meant to provide temporary first aid until you can receive professional dental care. They can help protect the tooth and reduce discomfort, but they cannot repair a crack, replace lost tooth structure, or treat damage inside the tooth. So even if your pain improves, you should make it a priority to get to an emergency dentist, like Dr. Keider.

How an Emergency Dentist Can Help You After a Cracked or Chipped Tooth

If you experience dental trauma and find yourself with a damaged or cracked tooth, contacting Dr. Keider sooner rather than later helps alleviate your pain. It also changes treatment options. A cracked or broken tooth can worsen with continued biting pressure or exposure to bacteria. That’s why getting it evaluated promptly may make the repair more straightforward.

Dr. Keider recommends the best treatment based on the extent of the damage and your individual needs. Whenever possible, the goal is to preserve your natural tooth and reduce the risk of further discomfort or complications. However, if extraction is the best option, Dr. Keider has a few great options for replacing missing teeth.

Broken Tooth Treatment Options

Depending on the condition of the tooth, he might recommend:

Bonding or filling: When a crack is minor or a small gap remains, Dr. Keider may be able to restore the crack with bonding using composite resin fillings that look very natural.
Dental crown: To restore the tooth’s shape and structure, we might recommend a crown (dental cap) to restore strength.
Root canal treatment: When the break or crack reaches the pulp, Dr. Keider may recommend root canal treatment to remove damaged or infected tissue inside the tooth. A crown may be placed afterward to protect the tooth.
Dental extraction: When a tooth is too damaged to repair with a root canal or other treatment, a dentist may recommend removing it. To replace a tooth after an extraction with a solution that looks and feels natural, Dr. Keider may recommend a dental implant.

Even if the damage seems minor, it is difficult to tell how far a crack extends without a dental examination. Seeking care sooner can help Dr. Keider determine what is happening beneath the surface and develop a plan to restore your smile to a healthy, comfortable state.

Call Today for Emergency Dental Care!

After a broken tooth, taking the right first-aid steps can help keep you comfortable, prevent further damage, and improve your options for restorative care. But these at-home strategies are only temporary measures. Reaching out to a local emergency dentist, such as Dr. Keider, is the next step toward a long-term solution.

When he sees you for an urgent visit, Dr. Keider can assess the damage and recommend the appropriate treatment to save the tooth whenever possible.

Dental Crowns, Dental Fillings, Dental Implants, General Dentistry, Mini Dental Implants, Tooth Extractions, Winston-Salem Dental Blog

Broken Tooth First Aid and How an Emergency Dentist Can Help [Video Q&A]