Some dental emergencies come out of nowhere — and this was one of them.

Our patient had a long-standing habit of biting his finger with his upper front teeth. Both of his upper central incisors had undergone root canal treatment and were protected with crowns. Unfortunately, root canal-treated teeth can become more brittle over time. Combined with the repeated biting pressure from his habit, this led to a major issue: the left upper central incisor fractured right at the gum line.

An Emergency Call Before the Holidays

The fracture happened suddenly, and the patient immediately rang our clinic — it was the day before a public holiday. The family had planned for a trip to spend the holiday together out of town. With a situation like this, he was panicking.

Recognizing the urgency, we invited him to come in right away.

Our priority was to stabilize the situation, both functionally and aesthetically. Here’s what we did:

✅ Placed a fibre post inside the root to rebuild support
✅ Restored the tooth with a temporary crown so the patient could smile and eat comfortably
✅ Relieved his anxiety by giving him a clear plan forward

This immediate intervention temporarily fixed the issue and saved his holiday plans from being ruined.

Looking Ahead

While we managed to provide a temporary solution, the long-term prognosis is still guarded. The patient understands that because the fracture is at the gum level, the tooth may not last forever. In the future, an implant may be required to replace the broken tooth permanently.

Our Patient’s Experience

Despite the stress of the situation, the patient left the clinic relieved and grateful for the quick action. He now has time to prepare mentally and financially for the next phase of treatment, which may involve a dental implant — and he is determined to break his finger-biting habit once and for all.