Oftentimes, people take small dental problems for granted because dental issues are of all types with ranging severity. Usually, patients only visit the dentist in case of dental emergencies. A cracked tooth is a dental emergency. Broken tooth pain can cause you a lot of trouble. Apart from experiencing pain with deeper fractures, you may experience easy decay and sensitivity of teeth. There are many types of fractures associated with broken teeth. Chipped teeth, fractures involving deeper tooth layers, and complete fracture of the tooth are some types.
Pain from a completely broken tooth may be constant or it might come and go. It can have a dull ache that is accompanied by pressure sensitivity. The pain can be experienced, especially if the broken part touches another tooth. Broken teeth will also cause sharp pains, especially when there is an exposed nerve.
Types of Broken teeth:
Broken teeth are generally classified into three types:
– Chipping fracture: This is the most common type of broken tooth. It occurs when a small piece of the tooth breaks off. It may only involve tooth enamel or enamel and dentin both. The broken part may be sharp or smooth, and it can cause pain if it cuts your cheek, tongue, or lips.
– Fracture involving deeper tooth layers: A more serious type of break that goes beyond the enamel and dentin to affect the pulp chamber or root canal. This will cause throbbing pain that often radiates to other parts of the head. You may also experience swelling and discoloration in the gums near the break.
– Complete fracture of tooth: This is a very severe type of break where the entire tooth has cracked. This fracture involves the dental pulp. Vertical fractures of the complete tooth may cause half or more of the tooth to become mobile.
What happens if a broken tooth goes untreated?
If a broken tooth is left untreated, the following can happen:
– Infection of the dental pulp: The broken part of the tooth may allow bacteria to enter and infect the pulp. This will cause throbbing pain and swelling. If not treated, it can lead to abscess formation and even bone loss around the broken tooth.
– Decay: Cracked teeth are more susceptible to decay since they are harder to clean. Bacteria can easily accumulate in fractures and cause cavities.
– Sensitivity: Teeth that have been fractured are often sensitive to hot or cold foods and drinks. They may also be hypersensitive to pressure.
Does a broken tooth need to be fixed immediately?
This depends on the type of fracture you are experiencing. It is generally recommended that cracked teeth be fixed as soon as possible since fractures can worsen or become more infected over time. If the broken tooth is not causing any discomfort, you may wait to see your dentist until regular business hours. But if there is significant pain or swelling, go to an emergency dental clinic right away
How long does it take for a cracked tooth to heal?
This usually depends on the kind of damage done and the number of teeth affected in total. The type of fracture also matters for your dentist to carry out the procedure to relieve symptoms. Sometimes, a complete fracture or a split tooth calls for extraction as the only way to alleviate symptoms. cracked teeth may require other treatment options such as root canal therapy and prosthetic crowns etc.
Tell me the best way to treat a broken tooth?
The broken tooth itself cannot be healed, but it can be repaired with a filling or crown. Your dentist will need to clean the broken part of the tooth or chipped tooth before filling it up and giving you anesthetics for pain relief. A broken front tooth may need to be treated with a crown since fillings are often less aesthetically pleasing in these cases. If the broken back teeth cause sensitivity, your dentist may remove them completely if they cannot be saved by other treatments.
How do I know my broken tooth needs root canal therapy?
If there is a throbbing pain that radiates to other parts of your head, then this means you have inflammation caused by bacteria inside your pulp chamber and root canal system. This type of infection requires immediate treatment and may require a root canal. Your care provider will deal with the situation according to the dental emergency. Only a dentist can tell you if you need root canal therapy.
Will a broken tooth eventually stop hurting?
It depends on the broken or cracked tooth and how long you have had it. Sometimes, cracked teeth will heal themselves over time if they are not causing pain or sensitivity. Other times, however, fractured teeth can become infected with bacteria that cause painful symptoms such as swelling in gums near broken areas or throbbing head pain radiating from the affected area, etc… This is why most dentists recommend fixing a broken or cracked tooth right away before infection sets in!
Serious complications of a broken or chipped tooth:
– If left untreated for long periods (more than one week), there may be severe damage to your pulp chamber and root canal system which could lead to an abscess formation at some point down the road. An abscessed tooth requires immediate treatment because it can cause severe pain and damage other structures of the mouth as well.
How can I relieve pain from cracked or broken teeth?
If you have broken or chipped your teeth, go to the dentist immediately for treatment. The most important thing is that tooth fractures need immediate attention because they can lead to infection and other problems if not treated right away! It’s also worth noting here too much time spent waiting on broken dental work will likely increase repair costs significantly as well so go see a dentist before things get worse than they already are now.
You may not even know that your tooth is fractured. A cracked tooth that involves deeper layers of the teeth may cause a lot of pain. Many times tooth cracks go undiagnosed as the cracks are invisible clinically. Only an experienced dentist may be able to diagnose a cracked tooth correctly.
How do I care for a chipped or cracked tooth?
In most cases, a cracked tooth does not require any special care. You can brush and floss your teeth as usual. If you have a filling in the broken area, take extra care to avoid damaging it. In case of a broken front tooth, try to avoid eating crunchy or hard foods that may damage the filling or crack the tooth further. With a broken back tooth, avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and eat soft foods until you can see the dentist.
If there is significant tooth pain or swelling, go to an emergency dental clinic right away for treatment. Depending on what kind of fracture it is and how many teeth are affected in total, sometimes a complete fracture calls for extraction as the only way to alleviate symptoms.
Professional treatment for a broken or cracked tooth:
Your dentist may recommend the following treatment options depending on your case.
Dental veneers:
If the cracked tooth is visible when you smile, a veneer may be the best solution. This involves placing a thin porcelain shell over the broken tooth to restore its appearance and function.
Dental crowns:
A dental crown covers and protects a cracked tooth. It is made of porcelain or gold and fits over the entire surface of the tooth.
Dental filling or bonding:
Your dentist can use filling and bonding material to fix chipped teeth. A cracked or chipped tooth may need filling or bonding if the broken area is small enough that it does not affect chewing function and there are no other signs of damage such as pain when biting down hard foods like apples etc… If you have broken front teeth, your dentist will likely recommend veneers instead because they’re more aesthetically pleasing than either crowns or fillings since the latter does not match up with natural enamel coloration so well.
Root canal therapy:
If there is an infection in the pulp chamber of the cracked tooth, your dentist will likely recommend root canal treatment. This involves removing all of the infected tissue from inside the tooth and sealing it off so that it cannot cause any more damage.
Extraction:
In some cases, extraction may be necessary if there is a vertical root fracture. After the extraction procedure, pain relief medication is usually prescribed.
First aid for fractured teeth:
If you have a cracked tooth and there is a sharp pain or bleeding, you need to take immediate action. The best thing to do in this situation would be to go see a dentist as soon as possible so they can assess the damage and determine what kind of treatment will work best for fixing it up again without causing any further complications down the road. Other than that, use an ice pack for swelling over the cheek. Warm saltwater and over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen can also be used to alleviate pain.
Do not wait until symptoms become worse before seeking professional help because fractured teeth may cause infections which means they could potentially lead to more serious complications if left untreated. The bacteria can spread throughout the entire body system after entering the bloodstream through fractured teeth if left untreated for long.
