What happens if you leave a broken tooth
What happens if we disregard and leave a broken tooth unattended?
There are many serious dental complications which can end up being costly, painful and complex to rectify: tooth loss, gum disease, and oral cancer are only some of the major worries which require immediate care. By comparison, having a cracked tooth may seem on its face to be a minor inconvenience, but it is by no means a small problem causing mild discomfort. Focusing solely on symptom management and avoiding actively seeking care will only lead to an initially uncomplicated condition worsening over time in all aspects. While pain is the first symptom a person will experience, the issues underway are hardly isolated to this issue, and proper treatment may require extensive care from trusted and experienced professionals. The connotations of an untreated and ignored cracked tooth are understood by dental professionals as requiring immediate action to aleve symptoms and maintain a healthy mouth.
What can cause teeth to break?
Even though enamel is one of the toughest and most resilient parts of the human body, teeth are still susceptible to damage, and cracked teeth can be extremely painful. There are a multitude of factors that may cause a person to experience a broken tooth:
- Unattended bruxism (commonly known as grinding teeth and clenching the jaw)
- Using teeth as tools (opening or otherwise manipulating objects with the teeth in lieu of purpose made tools)
- Biting and/or chewing hard food or other objects
- Untreated cavities, or fillings too large to be supported by the enamel
- A fall impacting the facial area
- Accidental impacts to the face or mouth by objects
When a cracked tooth is left open and exposed to the interior of the mouth and air, the pulp of the tooth and other tissues inside can quickly become seriously infected. As with any other type of infection, if this is left untreated further damage and pain is nearly inevitable, including tooth loss and bone decay. The sooner care can be administered by a professional, the better. WIthout immediate care the chances of saving the tooth are greatly decreased. The twin objectives of managing the pain of the cracked tooth and preventing the widening of the crack and deterioration of the bone are paramount.
How can a cracked tooth be treated and managed?
As soon as a cracked tooth is detected treatment should be sought out immediately. Symptoms of a cracked and compromised tooth may include pain that grows more intense while biting or chewing, or extra sensitivity to hot or cold foods. Over the counter anti-inflammatory medications can be used to provide temporary relief. The fractured tooth itself cannot be treated at home or by non-professionals.
The first step in treating a cracked tooth is to perform dental x-rays to ascertain the nature of the fracture. This allows the dentist to visualize the extent of the problem and determine how to successfully treat the tooth. If the crack is merely superficial, treatment may be simply to repair the tooth with a filling. If the inner tooth is affected, a root canal may be required in order to keep the tooth. If the infection or decay has gone too far, extraction will be required. Various restoration options exist in order to maintain the form and function of a patient’s teeth