What happens if you leave a broken tooth?
A broken tooth can happen in an instant! One minute you're happily munching on a delicious bowl of popcorn and the next, a dreaded popcorn kernel has cracked your tooth! A delicious snack is not the only thing that can cause a tooth to break, cavities, trauma, bruxism, and using your teeth as tools can all lead to a broken tooth. It is important to see your dentist as soon as you believe you have cracked a tooth, even if you are not experiencing any pain or other symptoms. An unattended broken tooth can lead to bigger problems down the line.
Symptoms Of A Broken Tooth
Pain is, of course, the first thing you may notice but not all broken teeth cause pain. You may experience sensitivity in the area and even swollen gum tissue or you may not have any symptoms at all, but you can feel a rough edge on your tooth. Your dentist will be able to help identify a cracked tooth with a simple exam. During which, they will likely take an x-ray to see if they spy any underlying bone issues and will have you bite down on a hard stick or instrument to see if any symptoms occur. There is also a dye that your dentist can use to stain the tooth to help more easily identify any fractures.
Bruxism is the unconscious clenching and/or grinding that a lot of us do in our sleep. Bruxism can cause extensive wear on the teeth as well as jaw pain upon waking. It can even lead to a cracked tooth! Your dentist can make a night guard for you to sleep in which will greatly reduce symptoms of bruxism and protect your teeth from fracture.
If you are having sensitivity and pain in a tooth, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication to ease your discomfort and use a cold compress to help soothe the area. It is important to get to your dentist as soon as possible for an evaluation and treatment to prevent further damage to the area.
Leaving a broken tooth untreated can cause the pulp within the tooth to become infected. Once the pulp is infected, you will definitely experience a lot of pain and the chance of losing the tooth increases. A root canal can save a fractured tooth by removing the infected pulp tissue and then having the tooth restored with a filling or crown.
How is a broken tooth treated?
Treating a broken tooth can be as simple as smoothing a rough edge when no symptoms are present. Fractures in a tooth will need to be repaired with either a composite filling or porcelain crown. Depending on the severity of the fracture, you may need to have a root canal performed in order to save the tooth. When your dentist examines the affected tooth, they will be able to determine how best to restore the area, giving you the best chance of keeping your tooth.
Severe fractures can eventually lead to the tooth splitting in half at which point the only option would be extraction. In the event that your tooth is hopeless and does have to come out, your dentist will provide you with options to replace the tooth which may include a dental bridge or dental implant.