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How to manage a broken crown and post from the tooth?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

How long can I leave a broken tooth (under the gum line) before seeing a dentist? I have a first pre-molar crown fallen out with post and part of my root.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have seen the image enclosed (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity) and I am a maxillofacial surgeon. I can understand your concern, but the prognosis for this tooth is very poor. You should visit your dentist immediately for extraction of the remaining part of the root stump left. If the remaining root stump is not extracted, the tooth infection can aggravate. It may be painless in some individuals, you will not know how the infection spreads further. So better not to risk delaying the procedure.

If the post or the root piece was intact, you still would have had a better prognosis for either repeating the root canal or for fixing the crown back in place. But on visual observation, I can say that re-root canal treatment also may cause failure again, and so this tooth remaining has to be extracted. By taking support of the adjacent teeth, you can either go for bridging or if you want to get a single implant done at the area after extraction, that is an option you can explore as well. Dental implants are better in comparison to bridges after you get the tooth extracted.

Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

My concern is that I may not get an appointment until next week. Would that risk an infection? I have some dental cement. Could I plug it in using this?

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Please do not do that. Wait till your next appointment. You cannot fix it back as well because part of the tooth root is out. Fixing back with a temporary cement will only aggravate the tooth condition in your case. You can start lukewarm salt water rinsing meanwhile five to six times a day to avert potential root infection. You can follow this for a week. You can also use Clohex mouthwash (Chlorhexidine Gluconate) twice a day.

Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team

Published At October 13, 2022
Reviewed AtNovember 25, 2024

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