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magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
Wed Nov 7, 2012, 08:12 PM Nov 2012

Craps. I just broke a chunk of tooth off.

I was munching on some popcorn. I should have quit while I was ahead. I accidentally picked up an unpopped kernal and chomped down on a spot where it jammed between 2 teeth and broke part of one.

I've never done anything like this before. Guess I've lucky. Thank you saturn in Scorpio....not

Anybody with experience in breaking a chunk of tooth off, your description of how it will be no big deal at the dentist will be appreciated!

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Craps. I just broke a chunk of tooth off. (Original Post) magical thyme Nov 2012 OP
was it one that you previously had a root canal done on? notadmblnd Nov 2012 #1
nope. no root canals (thank the gods/goddesses/powersthatbe)! magical thyme Nov 2012 #6
No big deal. PABigDaddyDemocrat Nov 2012 #2
I did that at the beach Kookaburra Nov 2012 #3
Hi there, Magical Thyme Dakotacrat Nov 2012 #4
You're probably looking at a crown. FLyellowdog Nov 2012 #5
thank you all so much! magical thyme Nov 2012 #7
I did this just last Thursday :) RayOfHope Nov 2012 #9
It doesn't really hurt magical thyme Nov 2012 #10
I broke one on a fig newton! librarylu Nov 2012 #8
years ago my dentist told me when it comes to fillings lasting... magical thyme Nov 2012 #11
awww hunny FirstLight Nov 2012 #12
i did that once too shanti Nov 2012 #13
I broke a tooth once on a chicken bone PADemD Nov 2012 #14
I got two root canals pulled. Manifestor_of_Light Nov 2012 #27
get to the dentist ASAP orleans Nov 2012 #15
unfortunately my dentist is only open Mon-Wed magical thyme Nov 2012 #16
wishing you much luck with all of this. n/t orleans Nov 2012 #17
Depending on your dental insurance dflprincess Nov 2012 #18
A few months ago I broke a tooth near the front top of my mouth on chicken wings and it was a onecent Nov 2012 #19
He patched it by bonding it magical thyme Nov 2012 #24
I'm replying to this thread since you erased a later one BlueToTheBone Nov 2012 #20
not deep suffering...just decision making time as far as job offer on one hand magical thyme Nov 2012 #21
That is a decision for sure. BlueToTheBone Nov 2012 #22
Shanti wins 1st Prize as World's Best Dental Prognosticator!!!!!! magical thyme Nov 2012 #23
yay! shanti Nov 2012 #25
I was once drinking a beer in a night club and one of my friends darkangel218 Nov 2012 #26
 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
6. nope. no root canals (thank the gods/goddesses/powersthatbe)!
Wed Nov 7, 2012, 08:31 PM
Nov 2012

The tooth does have a filling in it. It broke to one side of the filling and above the gum line, so there is still some tooth there.

Money is tight and I have problems with bottom fillings in that they can shoot me full of novacain until I'm numb to my eyebrows, but somehow the bottom teeth still feel much pain.

Still, this is bothering me only in that it feels "wrong" to my tongue. So maybe I've de-sensitized over the years.

2. No big deal.
Wed Nov 7, 2012, 08:15 PM
Nov 2012

Go and get it fixed. They will probably just take a mold and then plaster over it until a cap can be made for you. Then they will just glue it. No biggie.

Kookaburra

(2,649 posts)
3. I did that at the beach
Wed Nov 7, 2012, 08:18 PM
Nov 2012

We were eating steamed oysters and I bit down on a piece of shell with a tooth that had a large filling in it. They had to do a crown. It was more financially painful than anything else.

Dakotacrat

(40 posts)
4. Hi there, Magical Thyme
Wed Nov 7, 2012, 08:19 PM
Nov 2012

I've recently had that experience! The tooth, a molar, had been cracked, and one night, FLOSSING (o the irony) it broke off and flew across my bathroom. It was not painful.

The dentist, due to the type of tooth break, gave me two options. Crown it ($900) or fix it with a big ol' filling. I'm fixed-income girl, so I chose the filling. (much to his dentisty chagrin.) He told me it probably would last 5 years or so, if I was lucky. So far, so good...six month's in!

Hope this helps!

Good luck!

FLyellowdog

(4,276 posts)
5. You're probably looking at a crown.
Wed Nov 7, 2012, 08:19 PM
Nov 2012

The cost will be more painful than the dentist's work! I've had several crowns put on and several root canals and none of them were bad at all. People always joke about how bad root canals are, but nowadays it's more tiresome than anything. You'll be fine.

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
7. thank you all so much!
Wed Nov 7, 2012, 08:33 PM
Nov 2012

It'll be ok....I hope. Will call my dentist first thing. Of course we're having a nor'easter tomorrow. Hopefully it will be ok until next week. Hopefully he'll be open tomorrow -- I think he's usually closed Thursday and Fridays...

RayOfHope

(1,829 posts)
9. I did this just last Thursday :)
Wed Nov 7, 2012, 08:37 PM
Nov 2012

Was chewing gum, broke out an enormous filling of a bottom molar.

The dentist said since it was a filling it was easier (although big) since it was cleaned up all nice from getting the original filling

Lots of shots, but no big deal. Does yours hurt? Mine hurt because it was fairly close to the nerve. I bought some Dentek 'putty' for temporarily replacing fillings until you can get to the dentist. It helped quite a bit.

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
10. It doesn't really hurt
Wed Nov 7, 2012, 08:44 PM
Nov 2012

It hurt a little bit when I was half-blindly digging around trying to remove what I thought was some popcorn stuck in my tooth. Then I looked closely and, uh-oh. Then I turned on the extra light by the mirror and got a better look and said "oh craps. When I thought I swallowed the kernal, I really swallowed my tooth!"

But as long as I don't scrape on it it doesn't really hurt. In fact, I just deliberately opened my mouth and sucked cold air over it, and it only hurt a little bit....

If the weather isn't too bad tomorrow, I'll lo looking for the Dentek stuff!

Thanks!

librarylu

(503 posts)
8. I broke one on a fig newton!
Wed Nov 7, 2012, 08:35 PM
Nov 2012

The dentist wanted to crown it then changed his mind after seeing the X-rays. I got the lovely white filling I wanted in the first place.

It's holding up well a couple of years later. I have plastic fillings that were supposed to last 8 years that have gone about 30. Your mileage may vary.

Good luck!

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
11. years ago my dentist told me when it comes to fillings lasting...
Wed Nov 7, 2012, 08:48 PM
Nov 2012

it's all about the hygiene. The better job we do brushing, flossing, etc., the longer the fillings last. He put most of my current ones in back in the early 80s.

Hopefully this one will just get a glues on cap or something like that. Different dentist. Different state. Different time.

On a fig newton? That made me laugh for some reason!

FirstLight

(14,095 posts)
12. awww hunny
Wed Nov 7, 2012, 08:56 PM
Nov 2012

I know it's scary....I broke off a good chunk on a back molar and had to wait TWO years before it could get fixed...thank goodness it was just an edge and not anything that hurt! BUT it felt HUGEEEEE!!! that's the weird thing about your mouth being so sensitive, is that the size of any issues seems like they are way worse than they are.... they are really small repairs when you see it in reality. I used to be a dental assistant when I was 18-21, and it was always amazing to me how teeny the holes really ARE...


FWIW - I had a weird dream about breaking a tooth and parts crumbling the other night, I guess it's pretty common...has top do with Speaking your truth to POWER

shanti

(21,716 posts)
13. i did that once too
Thu Nov 8, 2012, 05:57 PM
Nov 2012

bit down on a walnut shell while eating a brownie (no, not that kind, lol!), and broke a molar. i went to the dentist that day and he bonded that sucker up good as can be!

you'll be ok....

PADemD

(4,482 posts)
14. I broke a tooth once on a chicken bone
Thu Nov 8, 2012, 09:52 PM
Nov 2012

The break was not too bad, and the dentist filled it.

Another hairline cracked tooth (molar) required a root canal. After the root canal, the tooth eventually broke and had to be pulled. I would never have a root canal again!

 

Manifestor_of_Light

(21,046 posts)
27. I got two root canals pulled.
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 07:02 PM
Nov 2012

Root canals have germs in them. Anaerobic nasty germs. I also go to a mercury-free dentist. I got all my Hg fillings pulled and replaced with cerex.

I still don't understand why dentists use mercury and lie and call it a "silver filling". The EPA says mercury is the most toxic non-radioactive element. so hey, it's better than plutonium!!! (Not sarcasm).


http://biologicdentists.com/custom2.htm

"Research has indicated that 100% of all root canals result in residual infection due to the imperfect seal that allows bacteria to penetrate. The toxins given off by these bacteria are more toxic than mercury. These toxins can cause systemic diseases of the heart, kidney, uterus and nervous and endocrine systems." --Dr. Edward Arana, D.D.S.

orleans

(34,967 posts)
15. get to the dentist ASAP
Fri Nov 9, 2012, 12:40 AM
Nov 2012

when i did that the receptionist wouldn't let me in for a month (wouldn't give me an emergency appointment) and the tooth ended up cracking beneath the gum line so it couldn't be saved and i had to have it pulled.

the dentist asked me why it took me so long to get in to see him. i told him his receptionist wouldn't let me in sooner. he was pissed off--said the tooth probably would have been fine if i'd gotten in sooner.

so get it looked at tomorrow.

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
16. unfortunately my dentist is only open Mon-Wed
Fri Nov 9, 2012, 10:13 AM
Nov 2012

I think his business really shrank in the recession. This is a pretty poor area. But I will be leaving a message on his answering machine today and hopefully will get a 1st appointment for early next week.

In the meantime, it's been easy to keep it very clean, doesn't hurt at all, I'm chewing on the other side of my mouth and avoiding eating anything hard.

I think I'll be ok, although the worst thing is I'm close to getting a part time job Mon-Wed so I have a limited amount of time to get it fixed in.

I'm hoping since he has a home office, once I actually reach him he'll be able to work on me during a non-office hour. Since it's just downstairs, I would think he could...

dflprincess

(28,475 posts)
18. Depending on your dental insurance
Fri Nov 9, 2012, 10:39 PM
Nov 2012

you will probably find the cost of the crown more painful than the broken tooth. Though, depending on the break, there's an outside chance it could be "patched".

That said, it is important to get in ASAP so that the tooth gets repaired/crowned before you wind up needing a root canal as well (something else I have found to be more painful financially that physically).

As a Baby Boomer, "state of the art" fillings when I was a kid were large, amalgam things that expand and contract. As a result, my molars started cracking in my early 40s and all of them are crowned now. My dentist is not one to do a root canal before crowning a tooth (unless there is signs of infection) though I have wound up having root canals in a few of them - but years after the crowns were put on.

onecent

(6,096 posts)
19. A few months ago I broke a tooth near the front top of my mouth on chicken wings and it was a
Sat Nov 10, 2012, 08:12 AM
Nov 2012

Friday afternoon. Called my dentist and got in on Monday a.m. Fretted ALL weekend, as I have no insurance..(seniors dental is EXTREMELY high) but he gives seniors rates...(and I was going to him during the days when I had dental insurance through Ford Motor Co.)

I was SHOCKED. He PATCHED it...it was an old filling on the side of a tooth from the old days, and HOW he patched it I do NOT know...and then I told him I was at a family reunion with a group of my brother's friends and everyone had such nice teeth. Dr. said, 'they all have dentures", and I said, "I know", but I wish you could whiten my teeth - he had told me previously my teeth are too soft so he cannot whiten them, but he did a little bonding touch up for me on the front upper teeth..and I WAS THRILLED.

Probably no one can notice the difference..BUT I NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE..and I was charged $120.00.
Again I was thrilled!!!!

So hang in there Magical...

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
24. He patched it by bonding it
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 10:35 AM
Nov 2012

The original white plastic fillings (back in the 60s) would shrink and leak, and caused worse problems down the road. (My mother had our neighbor/dentist use the white plastic on 4 of my molars so my teeth wouldn't have any silver in them. They leaked and cavities tunneled through all my teeth except the fronts. I had to have major dental work 10 years later, and then again in the early mid-80s, when I was lucky to not need any root canals).

Everything has held up since my 80s upgrade until the popcorn last week.

The new materials are dramatically improved don't shrink the way the early stuff did, so less likely to leak. All he needed to do was make a new little "tooth wall" where it broke off.

BlueToTheBone

(3,747 posts)
20. I'm replying to this thread since you erased a later one
Tue Nov 13, 2012, 11:36 AM
Nov 2012

and I'm guessing that you are experiencing a deep suffering. I'm just reaching out to you to give you my long distance hug and hope that you can feel my caring. If it were me, since I'm so deeply in debt anyway, I'd just break out a card and have that tooth fixed! They can bond on a new part just like that...or you may need a crown
Love yourself and take care of yourself. xoxox

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
21. not deep suffering...just decision making time as far as job offer on one hand
Tue Nov 13, 2012, 11:51 AM
Nov 2012

versus the protected, "porn-addict" co-worker where I'm at on the other hand. It dawned on me that his porn-addiction was one thing when he could keep it hidden away in the blood banking room and the other hospital. They could easily chalk it up to co-workers turning on each other through the downsizing. It's a different thing when it's so brazen. Had the impatient Dr. X come storming in looking for that test result, he would have gotten an eyeful. They need to consider things from that perspective as well...not good for the Lab's relationship with the Hospital. They need a thorough housecleaning and overhaul there, including managerial.

I've just finished balancing the checkbook and determined that, including my teeny paycheck tomorrow, I can pay the dentist this afternoon for 1st visit, my property taxes this week and to have my direct vent heater fixed on Friday, and still have a positive balance in the checking account to put my snow tires on next week.

I have a little cash stash tucked away that will buy me food for several weeks on top of my frozen, canned and dried stash. I have 3+ months supply of dog and bird food, food for Dahli through March or so. Catfood and my fresh stuff if all I need to restock. So I can put additional dentistry on plastic and pay it off over a couple months if need be.

Forgot to say thank you and right back at ya!!!!

BlueToTheBone

(3,747 posts)
22. That is a decision for sure.
Tue Nov 13, 2012, 12:37 PM
Nov 2012

The devil you know and all of that. Have you thought of chatting with the department of labor? It is always anonymous and they are all over harassment and would jump on the porn thing. But, it's hard to thread the halls of management and coworkers and future. But, I have to say, you're in great shape for the winter. Fortunately for us, we only have 2 cats we're responsible for, but again this year, I'm not ready for winter. Wood and propane, some food, but not much. Luckily we have a year round farmer's market!

It's quite the world, isn't it?

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
23. Shanti wins 1st Prize as World's Best Dental Prognosticator!!!!!!
Tue Nov 13, 2012, 03:53 PM
Nov 2012

Just came home from the dentist. Tooth all fixed.

Crown not needed this time around. He said 20 years ago this would have been capped.

Nowadays: bonded! He did say if long term the bond fails, it will need crown.

Aside from a couple teeny ouchies while packing it down, no real pain at all!

Minimal financial damage: the cost of a filling sans shots, drilling, etc. $95

 

darkangel218

(13,985 posts)
26. I was once drinking a beer in a night club and one of my friends
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 06:10 PM
Nov 2012

grabbed my elbow to get my attention and subsequently pushed the bottle into my teeth which chipped one tooth so bad, I had to go to an ER dentist cuz it hurt like hell.

:/

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