A piece of the front tooth broke off: what to do if it falls out, what causes the enamel to chip

What should you do if a small piece of your front, upper, lower or back tooth breaks off? Is it worth resorting to extraction (completely removing the crown) and then installing a prosthesis? Why do strong, hard tissues crack and make your smile unattractive and chewing food painful? In fact, the problem is quite common and can be eliminated in a short time if you consult a dentist in time and do not neglect treatment. In addition, there are preventive measures that, if followed, will help avoid the formation of cracks and chipping.

Reasons for chipping

What causes pieces of teeth to break off (what to do next depends on the provoking factors) most often:

• Traumatic effects on the dentition. This is possible due to a fight, a fall, or an accidental blow.
• Decreased immunity.
• Poor quality installation of orthodontic structures.
• Hormone imbalance. One of the prerequisites is diabetes mellitus and other endocrine diseases.
• Consumption of harmful foods. Caramel candies, nuts, and the simultaneous consumption of hot and cold foods lead to injury.
• Untreated dental pathologies.
• Incorrect positioning of incisors, canines and molars and nocturnal bruxism.
• Damage to caries. This applies to both the initial and later stages.
• Smoking and other bad habits. Alcohol and cigarettes contribute to the thinning of the enamel layer.
• Demineralization, lack of phosphorus, calcium and other essential substances.
• Low acidity in the mouth. An insufficiently balanced diet leads to an imbalance in the acid-base balance.
• Damage to the filling material.
• Presence of cracks on the surface.
• History of chronic diseases.

Where to buy and how much does special adhesive for dentures cost?

For each material, it is recommended to use a special adhesive for restoring broken crowns. Self-hardening plastic Protakryl-M (powder, liquid) is used. Its cost is significant - up to 900 rubles, but the substance is used for rapid polymerization, creation and repair of prosthetic bases. The determining criterion for selection will be the hypoallergenic properties of the composition. The following products are available for free sale and are available to all categories of patients:

1. Protefix is ​​a budget option for quickly gluing artificial teeth together. This affordable composition is used for all types of crowns and eliminates side effects and contraindications. The price of the drug is from 120 rubles.
2. Corega is a more expensive product that can also glue a cracked crown together for a short period of time. The drug is an “emergency aid” to reach the specialist in a timely manner with a request for correction. Cost – from 150 rub.
3. ROCS is a European adhesive for fixing dentures, which patients buy if a crown unexpectedly breaks and there is no extra money for restoration. Price – from 250 rub.

Symptoms

Treatment of a small chip on the enamel of a tooth (front or back) should be started as early as possible. If the broken fragment is too small, it may not cause any discomfort, only aesthetic. This does not mean that you should neglect a visit to the doctor, since very soon the problem will grow to much more serious proportions, and therapy will be long and expensive.

Characteristic symptoms:

• visible cracks on the surface;
• loss of filling;
• exposed nerve endings;
• violation of the integrity of the coronal part;
• increased sensitivity to temperature changes;
• pain syndrome, especially at night.

Repair features

Is it possible to glue dentures together? If a denture breaks, what should you do: buy a new one or repair the old one? Of course, restoring a dental product will cost much less than purchasing it. If you turn to a specialist for help, he will suggest a clinical and laboratory method of restoration.

How to glue dentures together? It all depends on the degree of destruction. If one tooth has fallen off the structure, you can return it to its place using ordinary Moment glue and cast the model from plaster. If the prosthesis breaks into two equal parts, then to do this you need to make a cut along the fracture line, clean it with compressed air, and then pour in liquid plastic. It hardens and restores the tooth. In general, the restoration method is different for each individual case.

Types of damage

There are several types of dental injuries with fractures. The classification sign is the depth and degree of injury.

Enamel chip or microcrack

In this case, the integrity of the upper layer of hard tissue is compromised - it cracks, or a small fragment separates. Usually such problems are invisible and do not cause discomfort. These are minor defects that can be quickly treated, but people do not rush to the dentist with them, which is a serious mistake.

What to do if part of a front tooth or a piece of a back tooth chips or falls out? It is important to visit a dental clinic as soon as possible. Damaged structures will become a place for the spread of pathogenic microflora, which will provoke the development of caries and other diseases. In addition, the load when chewing food will increase significantly, so half of the crown may fall off at any moment.

Chip with dentin fracture

Dentists classify this type of damage as moderate. Symptoms may be pronounced or completely absent. If the dentin layer is not restored, the unit will gradually crumble and soon fall apart. In addition, the smile will become unattractive, especially if a piece of an incisor is missing.

Deep fracture to the pulp tissue with exposure of the nerve

This is a severe injury with serious symptoms such as bleeding and severe pain. Even strong painkillers help dull unbearable sensations only for a short time. The crown may be missing half or more. If you are late with medical intervention, the risk of infection, inflammation and other pathological processes that are difficult to treat increases significantly.

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The patient was extremely satisfied!

Moreover, pay attention, next to it there is a tooth with a metal-ceramic crown and this crown has dark gums. Naturally, we cannot copy dark gums; this is not necessary.

The patient, having seen such a wonderful result, wanted to redo her already old, metal-ceramic crowns on the left and right. That is, the patient was so impressed that we made her new tooth look natural. But that is another story. ))

Author:

Sergey Samsakov

orthopedic dentist

born 02/02/1989

Education:

2011 — Graduated from the Moscow State Medical and Dental University named after. A.I.Evdokimova

2012 — Internship in the specialty “Orthopedic Dentistry”, Moscow State Medical University named after. A.I.Evdokimova

2014 - Residency in Orthopedic Dentistry, Moscow State Medical University named after. A.I.Evdokimova

What to do if a piece of a tooth breaks off

First of all, you need to visit a dentist. Panic is unacceptable, since the situation is fixable, and at the initial stage it is quickly corrected. A specialist should examine the oral cavity and assess the extent of the problem. If the damage is mild or moderate, it is advisable to carry out treatment in the coming days. If the pulp is exposed, you need to urgently go to the doctor on duty. Otherwise, the patient will not be able to eat, rest, or sleep normally due to unbearable pain.

Relieving symptoms at home

To reduce discomfort and relieve pain, it is necessary to organize pre-medical care. The remaining manipulations will be performed by professional doctors after a visit to the dental clinic. Procedure:

1. Rinse your mouth with clean running water.
2. To reduce swelling, apply a cold compress to the inflamed area. Apply a sterile bandage if bleeding occurs.
3. Take painkillers.

If a piece of a tooth breaks off, the nerve hurts, or the root is split, you should not throw away the fragment of tissue; it is better to show it to a doctor. The fragment may be needed for subsequent restoration.

Emergency assistance before visiting the dentist

Immediately after the incident, urgent measures must be taken. All the steps listed above are mandatory: first, splinters and particles of food are removed by rinsing, then cold is applied to the gums to eliminate inflammation and discomfort, and oral analgesics are used.

Additionally, it is recommended to rinse the mouth with a weak antiseptic solution. To do this, you can use chlorhexidine, furatsilin or any other gentle composition.

Treatment by a doctor

There are several ways to repair a chipped tooth (how it is treated depends on the degree of damage and the presence of pain). Therapeutic intervention options:

• Artistic restoration. Special composites are used. Acceptable when breaking off small fragments.
• Installation of veneers and lumineers. Used for cracks, chips and formation of crevices.
• Recover using tabs. This is how a significant piece of bone tissue is reproduced.
• Prosthetics (crowns). Indicated when most of the dental unit is missing.

Did part of your tooth break off or decay?

Always at your service - Sergey Samsakov, orthopedic dentist with more than 10 years of successful experience, Moscow. Expert in 3D digital smile modeling, veneers and CEREC technology.

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Restorative methods in dentistry

The method of restoration depends simultaneously on several factors: the degree of damage, the results of diagnostic studies, general health, medical history and financial capabilities of the patient. The therapeutic regimen is developed on an individual basis. What to do if a front tooth is chipped and why the back teeth are chipped should only be determined by a doctor; self-diagnosis is ineffective.

Remineralization

Remineralization therapy is the simplest recovery option for minor chips. The technique is used for microcracks and other small defects, as well as for preventive purposes to prevent such problems. A special solution with nutrients is applied to the surface, and as a result, the protective properties of the enamel are restored.

Fluoridation

Damaged and healthy teeth are covered with medicinal solutions, gels or varnishes with a large amount of fluoride. Treatment is carried out in stages. This is one of the effective ways to completely restore a chipped front tooth. This method is only beneficial for minor injuries.

Building up

Indicated for moderate injuries. A paste-like mass is applied to the surface in layers, each layer is fixed. The doctor must carefully select materials of the desired shade and texture so that the restored areas remain invisible and do not stand out from the rest.

This method is highly effective and attractively priced. The first thought that arises in most patients when asked what to do if a back tooth is chipped (chipped front teeth are rarely eliminated in this way) is to build up the missing fragment. The technique is in great demand.

Filling and microprosthetics

They are indicated for extensive damage to bone tissue and internal sensitive layers. The doctor carefully examines the results of diagnostic studies (including panoramic and spot images), listens to the patient’s complaints and advises which method is best to use. Restoration is possible using conventional fillings, inlays, veneers, and lumineers. What to do if a back tooth breaks off (the reasons do not matter) and is completely lost? In such a situation, prosthetics using implants or installation of artificial crowns is performed.

The amount that the patient sees in the final settlement after the intervention may be unpleasantly surprising. Before you ignore a small crack in the enamel and neglect a visit to the dentist, it is better to think about possible upcoming expenses.

How to glue dentures at home

In addition to the fixing device for dentures presented above, there are also quite high-quality compositions. They can be used to secure removable dental bridges or dentures. They are also used for temporary fixation, and the duration of its effect is 1 day. You can purchase the products at any pharmacy, and the average price will be 90-120 rubles.

As for preparations such as glue and gels for gluing dental crowns, they can be used to fix a bridge that has broken. In addition, the effect of such a cream is that it freshens breath and protects the soft tissues of the mouth from rubbing with ceramic, metal and plastic structures.

Special cases

Some injuries require a specific approach, which has its own characteristics against the backdrop of generally established rules. We should look at them in more detail.

Wisdom tooth

"Eights" cannot be restored. The fact is that this makes no sense, because they are not involved in the process of chewing food and are not so important for the functioning of the maxillofacial apparatus. Doctors resort to extraction; subsequent prosthetics are not performed.

Unit

Such damage is the most aesthetically unattractive, because it is visible to others if a person smiles or simply talks. Treatment methods can be any, it all depends on the dentist’s recommendations and the patient’s personal preferences and financial capabilities.

Most often, artistic restoration is used. The specialist selects the composition of the required shade and applies it to the surface. The layer of material is fixed with a special device with light radiation.

What to do if half a tooth breaks off, how will it be treated (a significant fragment has broken off along with dentin)? In this case, veneers are used. This is a reliable method that is durable. Over time, the color of the enamel does not change and remains attractive.

For the most serious damage, crowns made of ceramics, metal-ceramics, and zirconium oxide are installed. The final cost of therapy depends on the choice.

Lateral teeth

They are treated in the same way as the front ones. However, since others cannot see from the outside that there is anything wrong with your smile, ordinary fillings will do. The best option is extension. Overlays are not installed in this case.

If the nerve is damaged, the wound is first treated with an antiseptic. Then depulpation or extraction is carried out followed by prosthetics.

Dairy elements

What to do with a chipped tooth and how to treat it if it hurts? Many parents mistakenly believe that there is no need to correct problems that arise with children’s first incisors, canines and molars - they will fall out sooner or later anyway. This is a big misconception, because the doctor is able to quickly stop further cracking with a filling or a special gel without pain or other unpleasant sensations.

Children are often injured due to falls during active play. If you ignore the treatment of chips, this often leads to stomatitis and increased sensitivity of the dentition.

Procedure:

• calm the baby;
• give him clean water to rinse his mouth;
• disinfect soft tissues if they are damaged;
• save the fragment for the dentist.

No more than 24 hours should pass from the moment of injury to the visit to the dentist. Most likely, the child will be sent for an X-ray. The condition of the permanent one depends on the health of the primary occlusion.

Vertical crack

What should you do if your front tooth chips a little, but the absence of fragments is not visible, only a crack running from top to bottom is noticeable? At first glance, this problem seems insignificant. However, this opinion is erroneous, because most often the pulp is involved. In this case, the enamel layer cannot be restored.

If at first only a small strip is visible on the surface, over time, under constant pressure, it develops into large chips. Timely consultation with a doctor guarantees quick and easy restoration of the dental unit. Otherwise, you cannot do without installing crowns or veneers.

Occurrence of a vertical crack

Sometimes a chip does not appear, but the tooth cracks vertically - this is very noticeable from the outside. The choice of treatment method will be based on how severely the enamel is damaged and how deep the crack goes.

There are three main treatment options:

• Standard filling.
• Installation of external onlays on the tooth.
• Removal and subsequent implantation.

It is important to resolve the problem quickly before numerous potential complications arise.

Complications after chipping

Restoring a chipped front tooth or a chipped molar (what to do in the case of different types of damage is discussed above) should be mandatory. Firstly, the aesthetic component suffers. A smile looks ugly, a person develops complexes, he is always afraid that others will notice the defect. Secondly, if you neglect medical intervention, you cannot avoid negative consequences (sometimes irreversible). These are problems such as:

• malocclusion;
• curvature of roots;
• increased sensitivity to external stimuli (cold, hot, sour, sweet);
• pulpitis, periodontitis and other diseases.

All of these conditions are considered very serious. Most of them often lead to the loss of units and affect the health of neighboring elements.

Oral diseases affect other organs. For example, if a large piece of a back tooth breaks off and the remaining fragment or the entire row hurts, this can later be associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, heart and blood vessels, and urinary system. Even microcracks can lead to such complications. Thus, unpleasant consequences can only be avoided with the help of timely intervention by a dentist.

When to use crowns

If the destruction is significant, the dentist will suggest installing a veneer or crown.

Crowns are made from:

• Porcelain or composite resins are the most natural-looking materials;
• Metal – these crowns are the strongest.

If the coronal part is destroyed and the root remains intact, the patient will have a pin installed and covered with a crown.

To install a crown, two visits to the doctor are required:

• At the first appointment, an x-ray is taken, the teeth are ground, an impression is made, and a temporary crown is placed;
• At the second visit, the patient receives a permanent crown.

Before deciding on treatment for an injured tooth, the doctor orders an x-ray to understand the condition of the root. Not in all cases it is possible to save the tooth.

Indications for tooth extraction

• The remains of the root part are too fragile to be used as a basis for restoration;
• There is caries damage;
• The chip goes into the deep root part;
• The root is unstable;
• Atypical tooth location;
• The remaining part of the tooth is loose.

In case of removal, the issue of implantation is considered - instant or performed using the classical technique.

When using instant implantation, bone tissue is not built up - an artificial root is implanted immediately after tooth extraction. The main condition is a healthy jaw. If there are contraindications for using this option, a procedure for increasing the volume of bone tissue and introducing an implant in the classical way can be performed. Before the choice of method is made, the dentist conducts an examination and identifies the patient’s characteristics. If necessary, an orthodontist or other specialist is consulted if problems are identified.

Prevention

To prevent chipping of hard tissues, you must adhere to the following rules:

• do not neglect daily cleaning and other hygiene procedures;
• visit the dental clinic every six months for preventive examinations;
• promptly treat caries and other diseases;
• adhere to a proper balanced diet;
• lead a healthy lifestyle, eliminate bad habits;
• if the bite is broken, take measures to correct it;
• minimize the risks of traumatic effects (too hard food is one of the main reasons why a piece of a back tooth breaks off, an incisor or a fang breaks off);
• periodically resort to professional cleaning to remove plaque and stone;
• consult a doctor even if microcracks appear that are not accompanied by unpleasant symptoms.

The dentition is a vulnerable place, especially if you neglect hygiene rules, often chew caramel, smoke, ignore oral diseases and make other mistakes. Chips of the enamel and deeper tissues often lead to serious complications if restoration is not started in time. Before determining what to do if a piece falls off or half of a tooth breaks off, the doctor must determine the extent of the damage and decide whether it is possible to restore the dental unit without resorting to the last resort - extraction.

Pharmacy adhesive for dentures

Nowadays, there are different methods for restoring orthopedic devices. The adhesive is used when the patient wears removable dentures. The quality indicators of pharmaceutical glue are different, but in any case they are lower than those of dental cement. But the structure temporarily holds securely. In order for the special glue to help fix the device, the patient must follow several rules.

• Before fastening, the device must be thoroughly cleaned, food residues and previous cement must be removed.
• After cleaning, the product is washed with a stream of water and then dried. Moisture must be removed, otherwise there will be no good adhesion. Some products do not require drying before application.
• Then an adhesive substance is applied to the prosthesis. The device is then installed in the oral cavity. It is better to apply the glue in small dots, peas or strips.

If the location is perfectly accurate, the product will stick perfectly. The strength will increase when, after installing the device, you squeeze your jaw and hold it in this position for about a minute. It is better to use glue with natural substances, which guarantees patient safety: Corega, Fittident, Protefix, Lakalut, President and others.

If a denture breaks, some people use superglue. However, dentists do not recommend doing this, because it contains industrial ingredients. They have a toxic effect on the body. Despite the fact that the device is firmly fixed, the risk of tissue poisoning is high. Also, superglue should not be used to fill small chips or cracks to prevent new defects from appearing.

When selecting dental glue, the degree of viscosity of the substance and its liquid characteristics should be taken into account. Consistency determines the amount of substance consumed. Liquid mixtures are used during the adaptation period; they provide comfort when worn. Flavored options are not suitable for everyone, as they distort the taste sensation.

Perfect Smile Veneers instructions in Russian

The product was originally produced and distributed on the American market, so translated instructions appeared later.

The standard package includes a removable plate. Place Perfect Smile Veneers in hot water for two minutes. Polypropylene will become softer and acquire a consistency similar to plasticine. You need to keep the plate in boiling water until the white stripe on the back side becomes transparent.

Then you need to get the veneers. This can be done using a spoon.

Now you need to create a cast. The plate must be pressed firmly against the front surface of the teeth for a minute so that the material takes the shape of the jaw.

Removable teeth must completely harden outside the oral cavity. To achieve maximum effect, it is recommended to hold the product under cold water for several seconds.

If the first time it was not possible to create an ideal and convenient shape, you should immerse the polypropylene in boiling water again. After several procedures, an individual method of putting on the overlay is formed.

Universal videos about the product contain complete information about how veneers are used in real life. You can also read numerous reviews or add your own.

Veneers do not require the application of additional adhesive agents such as gel or cream. They are easily attached to dental surfaces.

In order to remove the structure, no additional effort is required.

Veneers from E.max CAD –

Veneers from E.max CAD: before and after photos

Glass ceramics E.max CAD are lithium disilicate blocks designed for milling veneers and crowns on a computer-controlled machine (CAD/CAM technology) with virtually no human intervention. The process is as follows: first, the front surface of the teeth is ground down for veneers, after which a three-dimensional 3D impression is taken using an intraoral scanner.

Based on this impression, a computer program builds a 3D shape of future veneers, which is transferred to a computer-controlled milling machine. Next, future veneers are milled from E.max CAD ceramic blocks, after which there are still stages of firing, staining, glazing and fixing the veneers on the patient’s teeth (24stoma.ru).

Pros and cons of “E.max CAD” –

Yes, CAD/CAM technology is very modern, but it requires very expensive equipment, and this affects the cost of veneers. At the same time, the E.max CAD system has less capabilities for selecting shades of veneer color than E.max PRESS. Accordingly, the risk that the veneers will be slightly different from the neighboring teeth in shade and transparency will be higher.

The latter may be unimportant only if you use veneers to immediately replace all front teeth that fall within the smile line. But, if you need to make only 1-3 veneers only on problem teeth, then they may be noticeable against the background of neighboring teeth. In addition, the strength of veneers made from E.max CAD will be slightly lower - about 360 MPa, which is lower than the strength of veneers made from E.max PRESS of 400 MPa.

Well, the last thing that needs to be noted is that only standard veneers (0.6 mm thick and above) can be made from this material. For the production of so-called “thin veneers” with a thickness of 0.3-0.4 mm, which require minimal grinding of tooth tissue, or you can do without grinding the enamel at all - only E.max PRESS material is suitable. Thus, the latter turns out to be both stronger and cheaper, and has greater potential for creating ideal aesthetics.

Advantages and disadvantages

Microprosthetics has become a wonderful remedy for many. However, every remedy has a downside.

The advantages of installing veneers include:

1. Possibility to improve the appearance of teeth.
2. The ability of the material to withstand large temperature differences and high mechanical loads.
3. The linings are subject to restoration in case of damage or chipping.
4. Quick correction of an overbite or malocclusion.
5. Elimination of cracks and other damage to enamel.

Color is determined using the Vita scale. The marking is an alphanumeric index: from A to D and from 1 to 4. The letter indicates the shade, and the number indicates its intensity.

The disadvantages are the following:

1. If the instructions for use are not followed, porcelain onlays may become damaged and composite onlays may crack.
2. Before installation, preparation is carried out, due to which the original appearance of the tooth is completely lost.
3. The service life of composite veneers is 3–5 years, after which they require replacement. In addition, the material darkens over time.

Ceramic dentures, according to most dentists, are of higher quality.

Is it possible to install veneers without preparation?

Fixing dental onlays without preliminary grinding is possible, but only with minor tooth defects. To avoid grinding down teeth, lumineers are most often used - ultra-thin microprostheses. They are more expensive than ordinary veneers, but they protect teeth even more reliably than native enamel. If your teeth are significantly crooked or uneven, it is not recommended to use lumineers.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with Dental Surgical Office Equipment

You can also install veneers without grinding on small teeth with noticeable gaps. In this case, the procedure will achieve a good cosmetic effect.