Can a tooth that has been chipped to gumline be saved? (Photo)

Thank you for your inquiry and time in submitting your photo. We're sorry to hear about your tooth but happy you're reaching out to begin to find a solution to your issue. It's difficult to determine if your broken tooth can be saved, as it would be crucial to see your x-rays to see how much tooth structure remains. From looking at this picture alone, you may also need some gum treatment if your tooth can be saved, but it's difficult to tell for sure and there may be extensive decay under your gum that cannot be seen with a photograph alone.  You're correct that if you do need to extract your tooth (again depending on your x-ray determines) you may be able to get a bone graft, implant and crown placed. Conversely, if you're able to save your tooth, at least a root canal (possibly post as well), build-up and crown will be needed. Also if your tooth is salvageable, you may not have a strong long-term prognosis since so much of the tooth structure is already gone.  Just be sure you seek an experienced dentist and get all your treatment options and understand your risks and benefits for each. We hope this helps and we wish you all the best!

Saving your tooth would be ideal, but my concern is that so much of a large tooth has been decayed away.How far under the gum does the decay go? Is it even savable? You need to see a dentist for an exam and xrays!Having seen this too many times in my career, likely you will need an extraction and bone graph, followed a few months later with implant placement and eventual implant crown.Don't wait any longer!

Teeth broken to the gum line can, sometimes, be saved by pushing the gums lower to make room for a new crown. You would have to see a periodontist for a procedure called a "crown lengthening" and then wait about 8 weeks for the crown to be placed by your dentist. If, however, the teeth are hopeless and cannot be treated, then these broken down teeth can be extracted an immediately replaced with implants at the same time. This may not ALWAYS be possible because there are anatomical and physiological reasons which may preclude this from happening. If it doesn´t work a dental implant could be a good option too.

This is a very good question and I come across this dilemma several times a week. It is hard to say from the photo if your tooth is restorable, but from my experience, even if you could save this tooth, it may not last that long as the foundation is very weak and this molar tooth is under a lot of biting forces as well. The most cost effective treatment with the longest lasting result is placing a dental implant in the area of this broken tooth. Implants have a great success track and last a long time with proper care and maintenance. I hope this helped.