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Health

Broken Tooth

(77 Posts)
avitorl Mon 04-Jan-21 21:07:20

One of my back teeth has just cracked and about half of it has broken off.
I haven't seen my Dentist since Covid began but this is really worrying me now. Can anyone give me any idea if this tooth is likely to become painful? Also is it possible I will be able to see a Dentist any time soon?

Galaxy Mon 04-Jan-21 21:10:33

A bit of my tooth broke off 2 days ago. I had been in fairly bad pain for 2 days prior to this. It doesnt hurt at all now. Not sure how this helps! I am going to book a dentist appointment if I can get one. I am very cautious about covid but I think there is also a risk if it gets infected? I am not an expert as you can tell. Hope you get it sorted.

Marmight Mon 04-Jan-21 21:10:59

Dentists will be operating for emergencies, or so mine informed me last week when I asked what would happen in another full lock down.

MawBe Mon 04-Jan-21 21:11:39

Have you rung your dentist to find out what services they are offering?
Most will be open for emergency appointments.

Oldbat1 Mon 04-Jan-21 21:15:25

Oh dear I’m sorry to read that. Hope it doesn’t start hurting. I’ve visited the dentist a couple of times for two similar things since Covid.

avitorl Mon 04-Jan-21 21:17:15

Thank you for all of your replies.I will ring my Dentist tomorrow to find out if they are open.
When I last rang, re an appointment I had, all I got was a recorded message saying they were closed even for emergencies.

crazyH Mon 04-Jan-21 21:19:01

Similar happened to me before Covid, so had it filled, but need to see dentist because I think part of the filling has fallen off. A broken back tooth is pretty awkward to fill, I would imagine. The only other alternative was extraction and I didn’t want that. By the way, I didn’t have any pain as such, because despite the break, the nerve wasn’t exposed.

MissAdventure Mon 04-Jan-21 21:22:51

You can buy tooth repair kits, just in case you have problems getting seen.

I have 2 broken (below the gumline) back teeth, and have been trying since lockdown to get them taken out.

They have been painful but have settled into a low grade ache now, thankfully.

Galaxy Mon 04-Jan-21 21:24:49

Have just googled missadventure. Thanks that's really helpful.

Lucretzia Mon 04-Jan-21 21:31:05

I started with mild toothache just before Christmas. Was worried that it would escalate to agony.

Phoned the dentist and got an emergency appointment that same day. All went very smoothly

Good luck!

Puzzler61 Mon 04-Jan-21 21:54:45

I wouldn’t leave it and hope it’s okay Aviator . Ring your dentist as the private ones are definitely offering emergency treatment. I’ve pm’ed you.

Puzzler61 Mon 04-Jan-21 21:55:21

avitor1 blooming typo.

vampirequeen Mon 04-Jan-21 21:58:02

My dentist removed a cracked tooth last November. They're allowed to deal with emergencies and I'm sure a cracked tooth qualifies as such. Phone your dentist and they'll probably do telephone triage then make you an appointment.

PollyDolly Mon 04-Jan-21 22:06:55

Avitor1, I hope you get this sorted, I've sent a PM with some useful information.

kittylester Mon 04-Jan-21 22:17:43

DH has just read his local guidelines (hot off the press) and dental surgeries remain open. They will be operating a telephone triage system.

I lost a big chunk of tooth at the beginning of the first lockdown. Dh keeps refilling it with emergency stuff but it keeps dropping out. As I am having no pain from it, I will wait until after this lockdown.

Beauregard Mon 04-Jan-21 22:30:28

Part of my back tooth broke off last week. It wasn't painful but was so jagged it kept cutting my tongue. I called the dentist on Tuesday and explained this. They gave me an emergency appointment for Thursday and I went along and had my tooth filled. I can't speak highly enough of the dental team that provided this fantastic service. I hope you can get the treatment you need too.

Teacheranne Tue 05-Jan-21 00:00:54

I must be very fortunate with my NHS dentist. They were only open for emergencies for a while but are now offering routine checkups again.

Mind you, my appointment for Wednesday might now be cancelled just as the one booked for the beginning of April was cancelled. Just my luck to be caught twice by national lockdowns.

avitorl Tue 05-Jan-21 10:04:07

I have been trying to phone my Dentist this morning.The good news is there is a recorded message saying they will be operating as normal during the November Lockdown.The bad news is that there doesn't seem to be anyone there today to answer the phone.
Fortunately I am in no pain so hopefully it will stay that way until I can get treatment.

Tangerine Tue 05-Jan-21 10:19:22

If in no pain at the moment, it may stay that way. In your situation, I'd avoid eating on that tooth. Don't keep prodding at it with your tongue either although I know it's very tempting!!!

Ailidh Tue 05-Jan-21 10:22:31

At the beginning of First Lockdown I broke a tooth. It didn't hurt but I rang the dentist to let them know, so that if it did start to be painful, they'd have a note of the problem on file.
A couple of weeks later, the same thing happened to the same tooth, so I rang again.
The next day they rang me to book treatment.
Dentists seem pretty on the ball about getting people seen in cases where treatment is necessary.

WOODMOUSE49 Tue 05-Jan-21 10:25:15

Dentists are still open. Please ring yours for help

Juliann Tue 05-Jan-21 10:25:35

All dentists are remaining open.
Check out BDA website

Hetty58 Tue 05-Jan-21 10:25:58

I've delayed my check up and tooth cleaning, as I don't think of them as essential.

I'd have no hesitation at all, though, in making an urgent appointment if I needed dental treatment!

Funnygran Tue 05-Jan-21 10:28:17

avitor1 We went for our first check up in a year yesterday. During last year our dentist has retired and the practice has been taken over. The waiting room chairs were spaced out and there were only two other people waiting. When I was called in, the dentist was in PPE with a mask and visor - in fact I found him a little difficult to understand behind it all. I felt very safe and as I was leaving the room the nurse was wiping down the chair with an antiseptic spray. Dentists will remain open in lockdown so please don’t feel nervous about having your broken tooth seen to.

Riggie Tue 05-Jan-21 10:32:33

You can ring 111 to be given details of the Emergency Dentist for your area if yours js not open.