What to Do If You Break a Wisdom Tooth

If you break a wisdom tooth, the first thing to do is call the dentist. In most cases, a dentist will try to repair the broken tooth. Surprisingly, there is more than one way to treat a broken tooth—a dental professional may suggest a filling, a crown, or an extraction to maintain his or her patient’s oral health. When it comes to broken teeth, dentists take X-rays to examine the tooth and the damage.

The tooth can often be repaired with filling material, but if the break is extensive, dentists may have to repair it with a filling and a crown. This provides the tooth with more stability and keeps it from breaking again. Crowns, which help cover teeth and restores them to their normal shape and size, can help strengthen small teeth unable to hold a large filling. They can also be used to attach bridges, protect a weak tooth, or restore a broken one. With more severe cases, when the nerve and blood vessels are involved, the patient likely needs a root canal before receiving a crown.

When a wisdom tooth is broken, dentists have to consider many factors before deciding how to repair the tooth. If the tooth is impacted or emerges partially and is not situated in the mouth to help patients chew, the dentist likely recommends an extraction. If there are any other teeth that may interfere with the patient’s oral health, the dentist recommends removing all the wisdom teeth. However, if the patient and dentist believe there are not any complications, a filling or a crown may work just fine.

If the tooth is left untreated, patients might experience a few other problems. A hole in a tooth can make it more vulnerable to bacteria and decay. If bacteria find their way into the tooth, it can become infected. An untreated infection can spread to the surrounding gum tissue of other teeth and into the jawline. Signs and symptoms of an infection usually consists of swelling, throbbing pain, and possibly a fever.

Nevertheless, if patients can keep their wisdom teeth, they need to take proper care of them. Patients need to be sure to brush and floss far back enough to clean those teeth. Use a fluoride toothpaste, see the dentist regularly, and schedule cleanings and X-rays for those appointments. Doing so can help patients monitor their teeth for any sudden changes.

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