A broken tooth is everyone’s worst nightmare. After all, no one wants to deal with an empty space in their gums. Not to mention the way it affects your smile can have you feeling self-conscious about the way you look. Although some would argue that if your molar broke off at the gum line, it wouldn’t be visible. But whether it’s the front tooth or a back molar, it doesn’t matter. A broken tooth can be severely dangerous, especially if the bottom half of the tooth is still inside the gums.
What Happens if Your Molar Broke off at Gum Line?
Besides being a dental emergency, a broken molar can do a lot of damage. From extreme pain to further cracks and fractures in the tooth, the only thing you can do is extract it.
Essentially, if your molar fractures and falls apart, look out for its remaining half. That is to say, if only the top half fell off, but the other half of it is stuck inside your gums, it can be quite dangerous. For instance, a half-broken molar can cause nerve and bone infections, which can then develop into a worsening dental condition.
For starters, if your tooth breaks off, it can leave an open gate for bacteria to crawl through. Thus, once the bacteria settle in, they can eat the remaining tooth and easily access the connective tissues and nerves inside the tooth pulp. In another case, if a molar breaks off in a way that exposes the tooth nerve, then chances are your options of fixing the tooth are as good as null. This is because the bacteria will find a way to infect the vulnerable space, leading to a painful outcome.
What Causes a Molar to Break off?
It’s not every day that your molar breaks off at the gum line. However, when it does, it’s due to a variety of reasons, such as the ones mentioned below:
- Aging teeth
- Weakened enamel
- Dental filling inserted too deep
- Biting down on something too hard or tough
- Untreated cavity
- Constantly grinding or clenching your teeth
- Frequently switching between hot and cold temperature foods
- Facial trauma while playing sports
- Accidents or common injuries.
How to Treat a Broken Molar
Considering how a broken molar is a dental emergency, dentists try their best to bring the tooth back to life and reconstruct it. However, in some cases, the damage is too far gone for it to be fixed. Nonetheless, when it comes to treatments for a half-broken molar, extraction works best. Here are a few other treatment options that your dentist might consider, depending on the severity of your case:
- Dental Bonding
- Root Canal Therapy
- Braces or Aligners to mend the fracture
- Dental Filling
- Tooth Extraction
- Dental Crown
- Dental Implant
- Partial Dentures
- Dental Bridges
The recovery period of a broken molar varies from person to person. But on average, it can take a few weeks. Either way, it is important to follow the aftercare instructions advised by your dentist for a speedy recovery.
Closing Word
To conclude, if your molar broke off at the gum line, make sure you head over to the dentist immediately. You’re going to need instant care and treatment. For more information, contact Texas Premier Dental at (281) 206-0100. You can also drop by our dental clinic at 13203 Fry Rd Ste 500, Cypress, TX 77433, adjacent to Texas Children’s Pediatrics.