Teeth Fractures (broken)

Also known as dentoalveolar trauma, teeth may break, move and loosen, or come completely out of their socket. Depending on degree of fracture, teeth may be saved but  they require immediate attention. The various types of fracture and treatment are:

Mild to moderate chipping of tooth crown:

If there are no root fractures and supporting bone is intact, a chipped tooth can be saved with tooth colored buildup material. If it is a deep fracture, a root canal treatment must be done first. If it is a superficial fracture, it may be restored, but its health should be re-evaluated by a root canal specialist later.

Deep fractures:

Teeth with deep fractures require immediate extraction. The supporting bone is evaluated carefully at the time and treated accordingly. Immediate implants may be placed if the bone is relatively healthy and intact. A temporary tooth is then made within a day or two. Implants may be restored with permanent teeth after three to six  months of healing.

Pushed out / displaced teeth:

Teeth that have moved or were pushed out of position: This is called tooth subluxation. If there are no root fractures and the supporting bone is relatively healthy, moved teeth can be realigned to their original position and held stable by bonding. Root canal treatment is initiated within a week to avoid infection. After four to six weeks, the bonding is removed and any necessary cosmetic work may be initiated.