Note: This article is for general information purposes and does not replace individual dental advice.

If your tooth has broken off, you should see a dentist as soon as possible and have the tooth treated. We have summarised the most important advice and treatment options for a broken tooth for you.

Broken tooth – what should you do?

One bite on a hard shell is all it takes, and the result is a broken tooth. A tooth breaking off completely or partially can have a wide variety of causes. Sports accidents or an unfortunate encounter with food are often to blame. If the tooth has already been affected by carious defects in the past, it breaks off particularly easily. Reattaching it is then usually no longer possible. Nevertheless, prompt action must be taken when a tooth breaks off.

Immediate measures for a broken tooth

If the tooth has broken off completely or in part, it is important to act quickly and correctly. After contacting the emergency dental service, the affected area must be cooled. The broken-off piece of tooth must be kept safe and handed over to the dentist.
If the tooth has broken off completely, i.e. including the root, it should be stored in a tooth rescue box. If none is available, it is worth making a detour via the pharmacy so that the tooth can be saved.
Alternatively, a container of cold UHT (long-life) milk can be used for transport, as can a sterile saline solution or a freezer bag. Avoid keeping the tooth in a pocket or in the mouth, as it is not sufficiently protected there.
In the event of bleeding, it is advisable to bite gently on a clean cloth handkerchief. This stops the bleeding and eases the pressure pain. The wound can also be cooled from the outside with a cold compress or a cool flannel. Even better are ice-cold packs, ideally placed directly on the affected area – protected by a cloth.
If the tooth is no longer sufficiently sensitive, the nerve has been damaged. In that case, only root canal treatment can save the tooth.
You should avoid touching the affected area. In addition, broken teeth must never be fixed in place or even reinserted on your own. This can damage the delicate root fibres and make professional reinsertion of the tooth more difficult. Ideally, you should see your dentist in Düsseldorf immediately after the tooth breaks off.

Can a broken tooth be reattached?

If the tooth has broken off, the root usually remains in the jaw. It is therefore generally possible to repair the tooth. In the best case, the root is treated surgically and a bridge is fitted. Alternatively, it is often possible to bond the tooth. Bonding is usually still an option, especially if only a small piece of the tooth has broken off.
The situation is different with milk teeth. They are usually not reinserted, and broken-off pieces are not bonded. Instead, the remaining tooth is smoothed down, or the dentist waits for the underlying teeth to come through. In any case, measures must be taken to prevent damage to the tooth germ. In the case of a broken tooth, the dentist Dr. Pantas takes care of rescuing and preserving your tooth.

Broken tooth: what the dentist does

If the broken tooth is causing pain, or if the fracture site even begins to fester, a dentist must be consulted immediately. The injured tooth may need to be extracted and an implant placed. This is necessary above all when antibiotics are no longer effective.
The dentist will first check whether the broken-off piece of tooth can be reattached. If it is in good condition and has been properly preserved, this is usually not a problem. However, the treatment should take place no later than 24 hours after the incident. The treatment is then usually quick and free of major complications. The dentist bonds the piece of tooth in place and cleans the fracture site to prevent infection.

Broken tooth: treatment & follow-up care

If no piece of the tooth remains, fluoridation is often the chosen approach. The remaining tooth is smoothed and fluoridated. In the long term, a crown or an implant must be fitted. In the front of the mouth in particular, an implant is needed for aesthetic reasons alone. A filling made of tooth-coloured composite material achieves a good result, even if the tooth itself can no longer be saved.
If a piece of a tooth breaks off, you should see a dentist promptly. If you care for the injured area carefully and keep the tooth safe, the tooth can often be preserved. In addition, dental prosthetics are also an option.

Broken tooth – costs

The costs of treatment for a broken tooth can be explained to you in more detail during a consultation at the Dr. Pantas dental centre in Düsseldorf.