What Happens if You Leave a Broken Tooth?
In comparison to other oral complications such as gum disease, tooth loss, or even oral cancer, it would seem to you that having a broken tooth is really no big deal. However, you can easily be very wrong. Postponing any treatments and managing your symptoms will cause the condition to progress and worsen over time. Pain is not the only symptom that you may experience, and the broken tooth might require more extensive treatment eventually. Your dentist will understand the threat of an untreated broken tooth and will provide the correct repair procedure for your personal situation. So you can grasp the importance and urgency of getting immediate dental assistance for a broken tooth, here are things to help you determine the significance of your broken tooth.
The Causes for a Broken Tooth
What are some of the reasons a broken tooth happens? Despite being some of the hardest substance in your body, because of the enamel surface, they can still be damaged and broken. Some of the possible reasons can be:
* Untreated and consistent bruxism, which is the grinding and clenching of your teeth.
* Using your teeth as tools, biting pencils or fingernails.
* Biting down on hard objects or food.
* A large dental filling for a cavity that dramatically weakens the tooth.
* A. untreated cavity that also weakens the tooth.
* An unfortunate and unscheduled fall.
* Accidentally hitting your mouth or face, especially in a sporting activity.
Leaving a broken or cracked tooth untreated can easily cause the pulp and the other live tissues inside the tooth to become infected. Once the tooth becomes infected, the chance of losing the tooth increases dramatically. The sooner you act and pursue proper measures and treatment, the better are your chances of preventing further progression of the crack, or chip, alleviating the pain, and most importantly, saving your tooth.
How Can a Broken Tooth be Treated?
Unfortunately, unlike some other oral conditions that can be treated and remedied at home, a broken tooth requires the immediate attention of your dentist. As soon as you experience pain that comes and goes in intensity as you are biting down, and an increase in sensitivity with hot and cold temperature changes, it is in your best interests to seek immediate attention to get the broken tooth repaired and restored.
Your dentist will begin the treatment by examining the tooth and capturing an x-ray to identify the health of the tooth under the visible surface. Once adequately prepared your dentist can effectively treat the tooth. If the tooth is chipped or cracked simple dental bonding will restore the tooth. If the pulp is infected a root canal procedure may be necessary, followed by a dental crown to protect what remains of the natural tooth. Finally, the last option might be to extract the tooth. Your dentist will always take all measures possible to retain a natural tooth. If an extraction is the solution your dentist can present restoration options to replace the tooth, such as a dental bridge or a dental implant.