Front tooth snapped off at root!!!!

I had an implant about five years ago, due to one of my canine teeth having resorption - it basically disintegrated from the inside. 😱

Mine was done in one long session. Under local anaesthetic, the tooth was removed, more easily than I’d expected. A metal ‘post’ was inserted into the gum while a crown was made using the removed tooth to make an exact copy. I was able to watch the machine making it. The crown was then tapped into place and I had a new tooth!

It took about six hours but that included lots of waiting time for things to be made and to set, etc. It can be done in stages over weeks or months ie tooth removal, post insertion, crown placement. I went for the all-in-one version.

It was painless at the time apart from the usual initial nip from the local anaesthetic going in. I did feel a bit battered about once the anaesthetic wore off, not acute pain but a general ache as though I’d bashed my head. Over the counter painkillers sorted that out and I felt better each day as it all healed.

There is an aftercare regime to follow, to make sure you don’t get an infection but it’s just hygiene, really, salt water rinses and so on.

HTH!

Pleased to hear from you Agnieszka.

I haven't had an implant myself but a friend has had 2 implants with no problem at all. Good luck. x

Yes i had to be referred to another specialist in implants. I was given a temp denture which I hated. Roots removed without pain. Everyone was gowned up. Drove myself 30miles there and the 30miles back. Did have visible bruising which went really quickly. I required bone graft which needed time to settle. All in all it took about 7months but if money was no object I would opt for more. It wasnt a painful process just suffered numb bum. Haga

DH had one but didn't have to have an operation; the dentist did it all. Probably the root was fine.
The cost was a bit less than that but it has been well worth it.

Yes, I recently had an implant, I had `mates rates` but it still cost around £3000. It was a really excellent specialist who did it and it took a long time as it has to be stage by stage, over around 6 months, so I paid stage by stage, which helped my finances

The first surgical stage was the most scary and was an operation, I was fully gowned as were the staff. I was not in any pain but kept my eyes tight shut and my toes curled up inside my trainers. I had local anaesthetic. It involved scalpels and stitches because my root needed to be padded out

The pain came later when local anasthaesia wore off but I was at home and could cope. I needed to rest for days as I was also put on metronidazole, which wiped me out

However now my implant is part of me, it just feels like a normal tooth. That area has to be kept very clean and a good check was made on my dental hygiene on the pre-op consultation

At my age, 76, I would not voluntarily do it again unless there was no other option. I was just about coping with my small denture and would not be risking my microbiome and immunity again. Normal fee via a good consultant and if padding was needed, would be around £4000+

Well done Agnieszka.
What put me off implants was the cost! I know several people who have had them - in one case all his teeth! Without exception, they've been pleased with the result. It takes a while, but you will be aware more than anyone else. if you are bothered about the gap
I hope it goes well for you.

Hello Ladies, and a very happy 2025 to you all.
Not sure if anyone is still interested by my story, but I will give you a progress report anyway, and see if anyone responds.
I saw my Dentist on Monday, and he sort of talked me into having an Implant. Nothing else would do apparently.
He did a quick sealing job in the root area, and said he would contact the Implantologist for an appointment.
Nothing was done to fill the gap unfortunately.
He said the root had to be extracted first....but would be too complicated for him to tackle. I believe that will also be handled by this other Dentist.
I am extremely anxious now, about the procedure involved in having an Implant, as I know of no-one else who has one.
I would like to ask please, if anyone on this forum has any first hand experience of this method to replace a missing tooth.
I would be so grateful to hear from you.
Best wishes
Agnieszka x

Got an appointment Sunday afternoon with a new dentist Fingers crossed
Hope you’re feeling much better Agnieska

Dental anxiety/phobia is foul. I have perhaps been lucky but have found dentists very understanding when I’ve explained how anxious I can get. Recently a new to me dentist used an anaesthetic rub on my gum before injecting. Didn’t feel a thing the whole way through a long procedure.

I’m sorry you’ve this worry BlueBelle. Hope you get a kind dentist. There is truly no excuse for dental work causing pain these days.

Wishing you well Agnieszka. Like you my childhood dental experience was dreadful and left a deep seated fear. Describing it to a recent dentist she was horrified, the young dentists have no idea how dental approaches have changed.

The same thing happened to me, but some time ago. I had to have the root out and an implant inserted. Took a long time so had a denture while waiting for grafts to settle etc. But apart from the time it wasn’t really a major problem. Dental anaesthesia is so good now you really don’t feel any pain. Some pushing and discomfort but not actual pain. Good luck!

Agnieszka I m late to your post I just wanted to say I m another who is petrified of the dentist not without reason I’ve had some bad experiences in the past and before Christmas I had some niggles in a back tooth, as I had only very recently had a check up and been declared fit and well I thought I could easily leave it till after Christmas however I ve been in increasing pain over the last week and taking regular paracetamol I ve had two days at my daughters but haven’t said a word as I didnt want to worry them or spoil things so I’m going home today to see if I too can get an emergency appointment Unfortunately I have had a bad experience with one of the dentists at my practice and had to put a complaint in He told a whole different story but if he’s the dentist on call today I am stuffed (there are now only two dentists with thousands of patients each at my practice)
(I don’t know how anyone has totally pain free dentistry it’s never happened for me Certainly better than the ‘old days’ but pain free …no)
Strangely I have got quite a high pain threshold for everything else

Hello again, ladies.
I hope you all managed to have a joyous Christmas.
It feels strange now that it is over, after all the extra work that occurs for a time before the 25th.
Anyway, I am shocked that snapping a front tooth with very minimal trauma, is as common an occurrence as this post has shown me.
My goodness, I would never have realized, that it is no big deal really.
I am a bit perturbed though, that the teeth on either side of the gap are still sore, especially after food or drink.
Hope they don't decide to quit my mouth also!!!!
I will continue my Antibiotics meantime, and see my Dentist whenever he returns to work. Also bought Cuasept mouthwash on Karmalady's recommendation.
If any of you are still interested, I will keep in touch on Gransnet, with updates.
Thank you all so much. What a lovely resource we have at our fingertips here.
Take care all of you and God bless.
Agnieszka. x

It obviously depends on the work required.
I have had work done without an injection.

How could it be pain free without an injection ??
Or do you mean you requested general anaesthesia Catterygirl ?

My experience with dentists hasn’t been great. I always explain that I have dental phobia and request an injection as I am happy with the injection but they always refuse, telling me it isn’t necessary. It will be pain free without an injection. This has led to me not visiting for 7 years. I’m about to try again at my future DILs dentist in Poland. She’s petrified but has started to trust him and so has my son.
Deep breaths and just do it.

Cornishgreenhouse

I had the same thing happen a few weeks ago. The dentist told me you need about 1/3 of the actual tooth to be left in order for it to have a crown. I had to have the root removed which I was terrified of, but actually it was painless after a numbing injection. Now 3 months to heal and then an implant or bridging crown from the tooth next door.
I wish you well, you are braver than you think.

My tooth broke off at the root and I had a crown fitted. It didn't last very well but when we moved I went to another dentist who fitted a new crown which has been fine 🤞 for many years.

Implants, they are very good

I had the same thing happen a few weeks ago. The dentist told me you need about 1/3 of the actual tooth to be left in order for it to have a crown. I had to have the root removed which I was terrified of, but actually it was painless after a numbing injection. Now 3 months to heal and then an implant or bridging crown from the tooth next door.
I wish you well, you are braver than you think.

I had two front teeth that fell out eating toast about 4 weeks ago no tooth was left I never realised I had a bridge in front until
It fell out I am distraught as you are. My dentist is NHS doesn't do implants so I went to a private dentist for advice can have an implant but will cost in the region if £2500. I'm going to another private one to double check as the implant can take several visits until gum grows
round the metal
Peg they will need to place in the gum. Needless to say it's really ruined Christmas this year I understand how you feel and have my sympathy I'll keep you posted if some miracle can occur. I urgently had my Dentist make a temporary little denture it was excellent but I have a phobia of choking as so small so haven't worn it! We all have phobias of some kind. I wish there were a magic cure it looks hideous. Keep
us posted please

If it's a jacket crown you have ie covering the crown of your tooth then obviously the tooth has snapped leaving the root. You may be able to have a post crown fitted ie artificial crown on a little post that is cemented into the remaining root. The root will have to be treated in order to accept the post crown. If there is nothing for the broken crown to be cemented on to doubt an emergency dentist will be able to "fill the gap" temporarily. If your not keen on treatment the root being extracted and a small denture may be considered. What a time of year for you to have that happen.

Mine do that. If it's not hurting now the root is probably already dead, and with it missing you will be able to clean its neighbors even more effectively to preserve them longer. I just leave my roots in when my teeth snap. Eventually they get covered in new gum.

I'm so sorry this happened to you especially at Christmas.
My teeth are crumbling now . I am 57. My friend says it's the menopause, she's 56 and has similar problems. Try and find a dentist who specialises in nervous patients. I have a private dentist who specialises in this and is very good. They are pricey but I feel it's worth it. They have been great with me. I have had 2 crowns and having another in January. I had one tooth extracted as it literally crumbled away during March 2020. I was scared but it was soon over and they were very good at the dentist. The dentist I saw was specialised in complex extraction. There was very little of my tooth left in the gum but I can honestly say it was quick and straightforward.
Wishing you courage and strength to deal with this.
You will feel so much better afterwards.

You have my utmost sympathy. I dread the dentist and have had a lot of procedures in the past. None of us can help, you really must get in touch with a n emergency dentist if your own is not available. Please let the dentist know how frightened you are and I have to say I have done the same myself many times and always found them most receptive. I wish you the very best.

Oh dear I feel your pain 🦷

I had this happen earlier this year to a very old crowned front tooth which was very upsetting - luckily I was able to get in to see the dentist the same day and he did an amazing but temporary repair with some kind of material and literally rebuilt the tooth which lasted for several weeks.

Due to long running issues with abscesses from the age of 14 I had had several implants done to other teeth some years ago so knew that would have to be the road to go down eventually. I had to have the tooth removed and a small palate for the interim. Unfortunately the implant became infected so the tooth had to be taken out again until the antibiotics did their thing and he replaced it (at no extra charge thank goodness).

My husband has a real phobia of the dentist and due to Covid lockdown and also moving towns he hadn't seen a dentist in over 5 years. He finally got in to see a new dentist last month and has to have 3 root canals plus a new palate so I was dreading his appointment last week nearly as much as him!! Amazingly he came home after the first appointment and said he hadn't felt a thing - even the injection - the cost of it hurt him more

I hope you manage to get sorted out after the holidays - we struggle as babies getting our teeth then again in later life losing them!!