Sometimes, your tooth breaks right where it meets your gums, leaving only a small piece behind. It might be tempting for you to leave it as it is if it doesn’t cause any pain. However, a tooth broken at the gumline needs quick attention. Let us explain why:
What Breaks a Tooth at the Gumline?
There are a few reasons why your tooth might break or chip. Maybe it went weak over time and finally gave out. Or perhaps you bit into something hard, and it couldn’t take the pressure. Either way, it leaves a gap that doesn’t look or feel good. Some other reasons include:
- A bad filling.
- Biting something hard by accident.
- Cavities that make teeth weak.
- Teeth can break from cavities that keep coming back.
- Getting hit in the face during sports or accidents can also hurt your teeth.
Symptoms of a Broken Tooth
If your molar breaks at the gum line, you will probably notice a missing part when you feel it with your tongue. The remaining piece can feel rough and sharp in your gum. Your dentist can see it well with tools and lights.
If you see the broken tooth, it might look yellow or pink from the inside parts showing. If it looks black or dark brown, it could mean decay. You might taste blood from cuts in your gums or tongue or from broken blood vessels inside the tooth.
If the inside of your tooth is exposed, you will likely feel pain from the nerves. Sometimes, the broken tooth doesn’t hurt much, or the pain comes and goes. The sharp edges of the broken tooth might irritate your gums or tongue.
What Happens When a Tooth Breaks at the Gumline?
When a tooth breaks below your gum line, dentists can use braces or aligners to slowly bring it up above the gum line over a few weeks. If the break is small, they might fill the cracked molar or cover it with a crown. Sometimes, they might do a procedure to expose more of the tooth to support the crown.
Broken teeth are more prone to decay and infection because they lack the protective enamel that healthy teeth have. Untreated broken teeth can infect nearby nerves and tissues, affecting your jawbone, surrounding teeth, and gums.
Can a Dentist Pull a Tooth That is Broken Off at the Gumline?
If your tooth is damaged beyond repair, the dentist will remove it and replace it with a denture, dental implant, or bridge. Recovery time depends on the treatment. This can range from a few days to a few weeks. During recovery, avoid sticky or hard foods, biting with the cracked tooth, and drinking through a straw. Follow your dentist’s instructions carefully.
Dentists have tools like elevators and forceps to extract broken teeth below the gum line. Sometimes, they need to remove gum tissue to access the tooth. After extraction, they might use stitches to reposition the gum tissue properly.
Wrapping Up
People often leave a chipped or broken tooth untreated, especially if it does not cause pain. However, a tooth broken at the gumline is prone to infections that can spread to the jawbone and other parts of your face, throat, and head.
Visit our skilled dentists at Almond Dental. Our dentists prioritize your well-being and provide you with the best possible treatments every time you visit. Call us at (612) 782-7000 or (763) 762-7177 for an appointment.