07/06/2025
🔴 Dental Trauma: What to Do When a Tooth Chips or Breaks?
The photo shows a typical case of anterior tooth trauma in a teenager. A sudden impact, a fracture, sharp pain, and panic — these situations are quite common, especially in children and active adults.
📌 What you should know before seeing the dentist:
If a piece of the tooth has broken off, store it in fresh milk. This helps prevent dehydration of the tissues and, in some cases, allows the dentist to reattach the fragment.
🦷 What to expect at the dental clinic:
1. Diagnosis: visual examination, periapical X-ray, sometimes CBCT.
2. Treatment decision: if the pulp (nerve) is exposed, the tooth may require root canal treatment, even in children.
3. Finding and restoring the fragments:
Try to locate the broken pieces, keep them in milk, and see a dentist as soon as possible. In many cases, the fragments can be reattached.
▶️ In the case shown:
— root canal treatment was performed on both teeth,
— a fiberglass post was placed to serve as internal support,
— the original fragments were bonded back to the teeth.
❗If the fragment:
• cannot be found,
• does not bond /hold well,
• or is too small/damaged —
the tooth can still be restored using composite resin or ceramic, depending on the clinical situation.
📣 Important: Don’t delay the visit! The sooner you see a dentist, the higher the chance of saving the tooth
