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sarah
Lv 5
sarah asked in HealthDental · 1 year ago

Half of a tooth that formerly had a filling broke off. Now what?

So, when I got my braces off 10 years ago, the orthodontist accidentally pulled off a crown when removing the ring from one of my back teeth. Instead of keeping the crown so that I could take it to the dentist, HE THREW IT AWAY, and being the shy little 18-year-old pipsqueak that I was, I didn't raise the hell I should have. Without me being able to bring in the crown, the dentist was going to charge me for a replacement -- totally understandable, but I had no dental insurance

(and wasn't experiencing any pain or other issues as a result of the missing crown), so I didn't pursue treatment.

The filling in the tooth fell out about two years later, but I still never had any pain (or insurance). Fast forward to last night, and about half of the tooth broke off while I was chewing on a piece of ice. I'm still not in any pain, but is there anything that can or should be done to the remaining portion of the tooth? I know a crown probably wouldn't fit over it now, but could a dentist put in another filling?

Update:

ETA:  There's a little sliver of tooth left above the gum line, if that makes a difference.

4 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 year ago
    Favorite Answer

    Not to give you false hope, but a crown may totally be able to save the tooth. I had a molar with a cavity so deep I was certain it would have to be pulled but the dentist was able to save it! They drilled out so much that there was barely a tooth left but they covered it with a crown and we're still kicking! So I think you should visit your dentist and see what they're able to do for you. But shame on that orthodontist for throwing away that crown!! 

  • Anonymous
    1 year ago

    Now you have half a tooth.

  • Eva
    Lv 7
    1 year ago

    Unlikely that there's anything left to fill. You needed a crown years ago, so you probably still need one. Your only other option would be to have it pulled when it starts bothering you. Stop chewing ice.

  • Silver
    Lv 5
    1 year ago

    They might still put crowns in. My dentist shaved my teeth in the front down to almost nothing to fit my crowns in. But dude, go to the dentist.

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