A broken tooth is a dental condition that may result from an accident or from decay. To a certain extent, a chipped tooth can be a medical emergency if a large fragment is inadvertently swallowed or if it leads to an oral infection. Depending on the amount of damage sustained, the tooth may be permanently lost if left untreated, and the risk of future infection may increase.

A broken tooth must be treated as a serious emergency if there is intense and constant pain that does not go away, or if a fever develops.

First aid for a broken tooth may include taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, rinsing with mouthwash or saline water, and avoiding foods that require substantial chewing. Sometimes a broken tooth may leave an edge that is sharp or jagged; to avoid cutting or scraping the tongue, lips or cheeks, the broken spot may be covered with a piece of sugarless gum until a dentist can perform treatment.

The treatment options for a broken tooth in Costa Rica will vary according to the damage sustained. At the Flikier Institute of Dental Health, treatment may involve filling, bonding, a permanent crown, root canal, or veneers. If the loss is only superficial and inconspicuous, a white filling may be applied; greater damage that is visible because it affects a frontal tooth may require bonding, which is a painless procedure with great cosmetic results.

Sometimes it takes a broken tooth to realize a greater decay problem. In this case, porcelain crowns and root canals must be performed by endodontist specialists. Veneers are also adequate options. Worst-case scenarios for a broken tooth would be severe decay or an infection that threatens the gum tissue, which may require a surgical extraction prior to restoration. Oral surgery and restoration are very specialized aspects of dentistry, and they are both routinely practiced at the Flikier Institute in Costa Rica.