CHIPPED OR BROKEN TOOTH

Small chips broken from teeth do not normally require urgent treatment.

Often your dentist will just need to smooth the rough edges, or if the chips

are larger, repair them with some tooth coloured resin. Make sure you try to

find all the broken bits as some pieces can be re-bonded to the tooth with

excellent results.

A tooth that has more than a small piece fractured needs careful assessment.

If the tooth is acutely sensitive to air, this is usually a sign that the fracture

is deep and needs urgent care. Once the fracture is covered by a protective

layer, the sensitivity usually subsides.

Your dentist should assess loose permanent teeth. An x-ray will often be

taken of the tooth to rule out the possibility that the root has been fractured.

If the tooth is very loose, your dentist may need to splint the tooth to the

neighbouring teeth to stabilise it while the injury heals. Teeth that have been

displaced are easier for your dentist to reposition immediately after the injury,

so it is best to seek immediate treatment.