Broken Tooth: Dental Emergency and Solutions in Geneva

A shock. A crack. You pass your tongue over the tooth. A sharp edge. A piece is missing. Or worse: the tooth fell out.

A broken tooth is a dental emergency. Time matters. The right actions in the first minutes can save the tooth. Here is exactly what to do, and where to consult urgently in Geneva.

Types of dental fractures

Not all fractures are equal. Gravity depends on depth.

Superficial crack (enamel crack). Visible in certain lighting conditions. No pain. No loose pieces. This is not an emergency but a check is recommended.

Enamel fracture. A small visible chip. No pain. The edge is rough. Dentin is not exposed. Moderate emergency.

Coronal fracture with exposure of dentin. A large piece of the tooth is broken off. Dentin (yellow layer under the enamel) is visible. Sensitivity to cold and air. Real emergency: consult within 24 hours.

Coronary fracture with exposure of the pulp. The nerve is visible (red dot in the center of the fracture). Sharp pain. Bleeding. Absolute emergency: consult within the following hours. The exposed nerve must be protected or treated promptly.

Root fracture. The fracture affects the root below the gums. Often invisible to the naked eye. The tooth is mobile. Pain when chewing. Diagnosis by radiography. Absolute emergency.

Avulsion (tooth expelled). The tooth has completely come out of its socket. This is the most critical emergency. Every minute counts.

Emergency actions depending on the situation

Chipped tooth (small chip)

1. Rinse your mouth with lukewarm water
2. If the edge is sharp, apply a piece of orthodontic wax or sugar-free chewing gum to protect the tongue and cheek
3. Make an appointment with your dentist in the following days

Broken tooth (large piece)

1. Find the fragment. Look for the broken piece. It can sometimes be glued back together.
2. Save the fragment. Place it in milk (not water). Or in saliva (spit into a small container and place the fragment there). Or in physiological serum. Milk is the best improvised preservation solution.
3. Rinse mouth with warm water to remove debris
4. Apply a compress if it bleeds. Bite on it for 10 minutes.
5. Take a painkiller (ibuprofen 400 mg) if pain is present
6. Consult urgently within 24 hours. Earlier if the nerve is exposed.

Tooth knocked out (complete avulsion)

This is an absolute emergency. Relocation is possible if you act quickly.

1. Find the tooth. Take it by the crown (the white part). Never touch the root.
2. Do not clean the root. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it briefly under water (10 seconds maximum). Don’t rub. Don’t scratch.
3. Attempt reimplantation. If possible, place the tooth back in its hole. Push it in gently with your thumb. Bite on a tissue to hold it in place. Consult immediately.
4. If reimplantation is impossible: place the tooth in cold milk. Failing that, in the patient’s mouth (between the cheek and the gum, if he is old enough not to swallow it). Failing that, in physiological serum.
5. Consult urgently within the hour. The success rate of reimplantation drops drastically after 60 minutes. Every minute counts.

Important: this only concerns permanent teeth. Expelled milk teeth are never re-implanted (risk of damaging the germ of the permanent tooth).

Causes of tooth fracture

Sports trauma. Football, basketball, hockey, martial arts, cycling, scootering. The upper front teeth are the most exposed. A mouthguard is essential for risky sports.

Fall. In children and the elderly, falls are a common cause of tooth fracture.

Chewing a hard object. Olive pit, bones, hard candy, ice cream. Teeth are not designed to withstand these concentrated forces.

Bruxism. Chronic grinding tires the enamel. Micro-cracks develop. One day, the tooth gave way.

Weakened tooth. A large filling (filling) weakens the structure of the tooth. A devitalized tooth without a crown is particularly vulnerable.

Repair solutions

Pasting the fragment

If the fragment is intact and stored correctly, the dentist can glue it back together. Modern dental glue (composite adhesive) offers astonishing strength. The aesthetic result is excellent because it is your own enamel.

Composite (resin)

For small to medium chips. The dentist sculpts a tooth-colored composite resin directly onto the broken area. The result is immediate. The composite lasts 5 to 10 years.

Facet

If the visible side of the tooth is severely damaged, a veneer (composite or ceramic) covers the entire surface. The aesthetic result is optimal.

Crown

If more than half of the tooth crown is destroyed, a full crown is necessary. The ceramic or zirconia crown covers the entire tooth and protects it over the long term.

Root + crown treatment

If the pulp is exposed or necrotic, root treatment is necessary before placing a crown. This saves the tooth.

Extraction + implant

If the fracture is vertical (from the top towards the root) or if the root is fractured into several pieces, the tooth cannot be saved. Extraction followed by an implant is the solution.

Price of emergency care for broken teeth in Geneva

Where to consult urgently in Geneva?

Studio Smile – Chêne-Bougeries. Dental emergencies with same-day care. Call our emergency number as soon as it opens. X-ray, diagnosis and immediate first aid.

Geneva dental on-call service. On weekends and public holidays, a dentist on call handles emergencies. Information via SSO Geneva.

HUG – Dentistry service. For serious trauma (jaw fracture, multiple avulsion), the Geneva University Hospitals have an emergency service.

Prevention of dental fractures

1. Wear a mouthguard for contact sports
2. Don’t bite into hard objects (pens, nails, ice)
3. Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth
4. Protect weakened teeth with crowns (devitalized teeth, large fillings)
5. Consult regularly: your dentist detects cracks before they become fractures

FAQ

Can you save a broken tooth? In the majority of cases, yes. Only vertical root fractures and fractures with massive destruction are irreparable. Consult quickly to maximize the chances of preservation.

How long can we wait before consulting? Fracture with nerve exposure: a few hours maximum. Fracture with exposed dentin: 24 hours. Small burst without pain: a few days. Expelled tooth: 60 minutes maximum for reimplantation.

Should my child’s broken baby tooth be treated? Yes. Even if the tooth is temporary, a fracture can affect the germ of the permanent tooth underneath. Consult the same day for a control x-ray.

Does insurance cover a broken tooth following an accident? If the fracture results from a recognized accident, accident insurance (LAA for employees) covers dental costs. Report the accident to your insurer as soon as possible. Keep all evidence (medical report, photos).

Is a custom-made mouthguard really necessary? Pharmacy mouthguards offer minimal protection. A custom-made mouthguard, made by your dentist, fits perfectly and absorbs shock optimally. Its cost (200-400 CHF) is insignificant compared to the cost of repairing a broken tooth.

Broken tooth? Call Studio Smile in Chêne-Bougeries immediately. Dental emergencies with rapid treatment. Don’t waste time. Store the fragment in milk and contact us. Emergency number available on our site.