Broken Tooth - help!

[summerbreezy]

I chipped a back tooth (one next to growing wisdom tooth) in the first week of lockdown, had no pain or anything so just been looking after it with mouthwash.

This morning my tooth just randomly broke in half. I’ve had a look in the mirror and one half has broken off completely to the gum.

I rang my dentists and they’re not open for another few weeks but say if there’s any pain, swelling or bleeding to ring them back and they’ll transfer me to an emergency dentist.

I’m also 12 weeks pregnant, so I’m quite terrified that if I do get any pain I won’t be able to take anything for it myself bar a bit of paracetamol.

At the moment I have a niggling not-quite-pain feeling in my bottom teeth on that side but I’m awaiting a root canal for another tooth so I think that’s related to that.

I’ve rinsed with warm salt water and used mouthwash, but what else should I do?

How bad is this? Is it worth trying to get into a private dentist? How much would that even cost? If there’s no pain will I be okay until they can see me? If I end up with pain or an infection, will that affect my baby?

What will the dentist do when I get to see one? How much dental work can they do while I’m pregnant?

Sorry for all the questions and the long post I’m just very anxious and would appreciate any advice 💐

Impossible to say for sure without seeing the tooth but if it's broken to that extent the nerve is probably involved so needs either out or root treatment.

Your dentist will probably be able to offer you an extraction at this stage. If you really want to hold on to the tooth it will need a root treatment but nhs dentists aren't quite at the stage of doing these yet I don't think. England maybe a bit ahead of here (Scotland).

Private dentist might see you and do root treatment but can be very expensive - talking several hundreds at least.

OK to leave and pain or a bit of infection unlikely to have any harm for baby but I would try and get sorted out sooner than later because you don't want the discomfort/ inconvenience of being further on in your pregnancy and dealing with toothache or needing to take antibiotics if you can avoid it. Some antibiotics can't safely be taken in pregnancy and as you say you'd only be able to take paracetamol so ideally get sorted before you get to this stage.

When the dentists sees you can safely have an x ray, local anaesthetic, tooth out, filling done or a root treatment done with no worries for your pregnancy. They won't use silver filling material (amalgam) so will be a white filling. It's best not to get those drilled out during pregnancy either.

Have you phoned your dentist yet? Do it now before they get too booked up!! Good luck.

Sorry just reread your post. Can they put you on their list as a priority due to pregnancy.

Thank you so much for you reply

I do have a photo of the bit that broke off if that would be any use?

The dentist wouldn’t let me book an appointment yet, just said to ring up in 2/3 weeks to book one. I didn’t mention I was pregnant because I wasn’t sure if it was relevant?

So you think it’ll be okay if it’s left until they can fit me in? Obviously I don’t want to leave it any longer than I absolutely have to.

Is it safe to brush around that area? I read something about not brushing the rest of the broken tooth in case it unsettles if further...

Thanks again 💐

could you ring around and find a dentist who can deal with it pronto.
i believe it's v important during pregnancy to look after your teeth as your calcium leaches to the growing child, which may leave you deficient. which can weaken your teeth and bones.
good luck.
i wouldn't brush near it, just gargle gently. but i'm not a prof.

Impossible to say without seeing the tooth.

I broke mine about 2 weeks into lockdown... Still haven't managed to see a dentist about it. Around there they are only doing telephone advice, which isn't going to fix my tooth. I've kinda resigned myself to losing the tooth now unfortunately.

Thanks both I’ve attached a photo of the bit of broken off tooth if that helps anyone.

There are no other NHS dentists taking patients here—there weren’t before lockdown—so if I did find somewhere else it would have to be private and I am a little concerned about the cost.

Might be worth phoning and saying you are pregnant and worried about infection.

From the amount broken off I'd say it'll need root treatment or extraction.

Keep brushing as normal but very gentle round that tooth.

You could probably get an extraction at a private dentist for about £150ish. Might be worth it for the peace of mind.

Thank you I’ll do that tomorrow

I’ve always resisted extractions but I might have to just accept this one. How does an extracted tooth hole feel? Do you get used to it?