Dental Help (Semi-emergency)

[albertGQ]

So I had terrible luck tonight. I was playing ball hockey and took a slapshot right in the mouth. One of my front teeth broke in half. I was able to pick it up off the floor, but what are my options now?

I've put the piece in milk. I think I just have to go to the dentist tomorrow morning. I haven't been in like a decade. I have some benefits through work, but since I didn't choose any, I think I was defaulted with the minimum.

So what is the most likely outcome? Will they be able to reattach the broken piece? Or will I need to get a false tooth? Do they consider this an emergency so I will be able to get in right away? Or will I be waiting for hours? Is there such thing as a dental walk in or do I have to call and make an appointment?

I have no idea what to do and I'm pissed off this happened. So all the help and advice is greatly appreciated

Thanks guys!

[redforever]

Most dentists will take you right away under these circumstances. I suspect you will be getting a cap or crown.

[St Loomis]

The same thing happened to me with my front tooth (except it was a stick not puck). It was broken right in half. What happened was they put a temporary filling over the broken part. I kept it this way for about 10 years but the thing would periodically break off every now and then so I got tired of that. I ended up with a crown. You will likely need a root canal if there are any signs of trauma from the blunt force of the ball (I didn't but likely will need one in the future).

[csnarpy]

the other half is basically useless. if it's a clean cut then they can use it as a kind of template to help form your new tooth. And that's exactly what your going to get.

Trust me, my two front teeth have been root canaled, temped and now have permanent porcelain and white gold crowns (in the back of the tooth, they tend to use white gold cause it very malleable and can form your bite very easily.

Have fun and don't worry, root canals don't hurt. At least mine didn't.

[Azure]

Wear a mouth guard.

Always.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Azure

Wear a mouth guard and a full cage.

Always.

Fixed!

Took me most of a season to get used to looking through the cage. (Tip- don't get the ones with black bars, it makes it harder to track the puck.) But the following season I took an accidental high stick to the face. My buddy was all worried and then remembered I had a cage on, so all was good.

[albertGQ]

Okay, so I was able to book an appointment for Monday. I'll still try to get an appointment for today, but if I can't, is there any tips to not get it infected before my Monday appointment?

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Okay, so I was able to book an appointment for Monday. I'll still try to get an appointment for today, but if I can't, is there any tips to not get it infected before my Monday appointment?

Maybe go to your doctor or a walk in clinic, explain the situation and ask for a weeks course of a broad screen antibiotic and/or regular rinsing with a decent mouthwash?

[moncton golden flames]

I lost half my front tooth playing hockey once. The dentist just capped off what remained, no re-attaching the old piece.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

I lost half my front tooth playing hockey once. The dentist just capped off what remained, no re-attaching the old piece.

How much did it cost?
How long did it take?
Did it hurt?

I'm not a denitist but I did take a Dental Assisting course... It all depends on if the pulp is exposed.
If it's not: They will likely "cap" it. They'll put a temp on until they can make you a new one. The materials in the permanent one will be much more superior... in colour retention, adhesiveness and less attrition.
If the root is showing: (hopefully they asked you this when they made the appointment... because an exposed root is suseptable to infection and if that happens... well, let's just say you don't want that) They will do a root canal (take out the pulp and stuff the hole with little strings of plastic) before they give you a crown/onlay. If the root of the tooth is damaged they will yank it and put in a partial bridge (a fake tooth attached to a "good" tooth beside it. But this probablly won't be the case.
If it hurts when you touch it, I would suggest you go to a dentist that takes walkins/emergencies, because you don't want it infected...
Good Luck!

[Slava]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I've put the piece in milk.

Why did you do this? (curious as I really have no idea)

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Slava

Why did you do this? (curious as I really have no idea)

I couldn't tell you why, but i remember when i was younger someone said something along those lines and the calcium in the milk was supposed to "keep the tooth alive" or something along those lines.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Dan02

I couldn't tell you why, but i remember when i was younger someone said something along those lines and the calcium in the milk was supposed to "keep the tooth alive" or something along those lines.

I've heard the same thing, but I don't know if it's just an old wives tale or sound science. Than again, some old wives tales work ... unless of course the old wife in question is my ex, in which case it' probably just a bloody lie.

[ComixZone]

Dude, I feel your pain. About 3 months ago I was at Cowboys and my drunk (idiot) of a friend smacked my beer up into my teeth - breaking one of the front in in half. Ended up having to get a friggin' root canal and a cap....funny part about it though is I didn't end the night on that note, I dropped a bunch of tequila and still got 2 phone numbers....all the while talking like how Theo Fleury used to do press conferences covering his front teeth with his upper-lip.

Theo Fleury, when does he stop giving?

[OutOfTheCube]

I broke a big chunk off of one of my back molars eating chips one day. Creepy thing was I ate the bit since I didn't even notice... I guess that part was really weak anyways cause I made the appointment and little pieces kept falling off before I went in. The root wasn't exposed so they basically treated it was a mega sized cavity and did some special filling stuff. It wasn't a big deal.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Dude, I feel your pain. About 3 months ago I was at Cowboys and my drunk (idiot) of a friend smacked my beer up into my teeth - breaking one of the front in in half. Ended up having to get a friggin' root canal and a cap....funny part about it though is I didn't end the night on that note, I dropped a bunch of tequila and still got 2 phone numbers....all the while talking like how Theo Fleury used to do press conferences covering his front teeth with his upper-lip.

Theo Fleury, when does he stop giving?

Never.

[bigtmac19]

you may have to get both front teeth capped eventually.
I broke a front tooth when I was a kid, and have had several caps since then.
It is still noticeable which really bugs me. It's pretty hard to match them well.