Can A Broken Or Chipped Tooth Be Saved, And What Are The Treatment Options?
The Ins-and-Outs of a Broken Tooth
Cracked or broken teeth are extremely uncomfortable to deal with and can cause the patient unrelenting pain. A broken tooth is a fracture of any size that has cracked the enamel. A tooth can crack in different ways, all of which require different care. If the tooth is broken badly enough or causing unmanageable pain it is likely an emergency. You may be able to have a dentist repair a broken tooth depending on the type of crack and how severe it is. To learn more about broken teeth, and emergency treatment continue reading.
Understanding Different Types of Cracked Teeth
Cracked teeth are considered a fracture that runs through the tooth itself. In some situations, the broken tooth will cause very little pain, but some will require dental emergency treatment. A broken tooth can be dangerous and lead to other health concerns, but only if it’s broken in a particular way. Not all breaks require treatment, and not all can be repaired. A cracked tooth is simply a tooth with a fracture from the surface inward towards your gums, and even the root. A split tooth is when the broken tooth is split into two halves. Hairline cracks are typically very small and don’t impact any parts of the tooth other than the enamel. A fractured cusp is a crack that typically will form near dental fillings. Vertical root fractures begin beneath the gum line and shoot vertically away from the gums.
Cracked Teeth Emergencies & Teeth Pain
A cracked tooth won’t be considered an emergency unless the patient is experiencing extreme symptoms that they aren’t able to manage on their own. When a tooth has a severe crack in it, like a broken root or if the tooth has split in half, seek emergency dental care. Small chips, or painless cracks can be handled by a standard dental professional.
Chipped Teeth and Broken Enamel
Taking care of our teeth not only protects our smile but prevents decay. As teeth decay they become structurally weaker and can chip more easily. The enamel of our teeth protect them and ensure they maintain their strength and utility. Enamel can be worn down by eating certain foods that are highly acidic. Spicy foods, coffee, juices, and many other foods should be consumed in moderation.
Potential Risks Leading to Chipped Teeth
Risk factors involved in the vulnerability of our teeth range from what we eat to even something as simple as our age. A tooth that is healthy, strong, and well taken care of is much less likely to get cracked or chipped. If you’re not paying attention to these risk factors it can result in cracks and chips that can cause extreme pain and require specialized dental treatment in order to get fixed.
Dental Emergencies and Treatment for Broken Teeth
Dental emergencies vary greatly depending on the intensity of the situation. A cracked tooth may need to be attended to immediately, but some cracks are milk and can be examined at a later point. While not all types of cracks can be dangerous or even cause serious pain, it is important to have them looked at by a dentistry professional. In the event that a broken tooth does cause severe pain, you may want to seek out emergency dental care.
Common Causes of Damaged Teeth
Ultimately the potential for a chipped or broken tooth comes down to the health and strength of your teeth. Because a chipped tooth can be a result of both long-term wear or blunt physical blows, taking care of your teeth is crucial to avoid any issues. Teeth grinding contributes to the susceptibility of a tooth getting chipped because it weakens the tooth over a long period of time. Whether you’ve damaged a tooth in a physical injury, or while chewing a hard candy, tooth decay and enamel strength play a big role in the safety of your smile. If the chip is not very severe and is not causing major pain it likely can be repaired and you should make an appointment with your dental office and learn about treatment options.
What Causes a Tooth to Chip
We find the most common cause of chipped teeth is biting into anything hard. This could be chewing hard candy, using your teeth to open a lid on a bottle, biting down on utensils with too much strength, or many other scenarios. Teeth that have been weakened over time are more susceptible to getting chipped and requiring treatment. It is important to take care of your teeth, since eroded enamel and poor hygiene both can increase the likelihood your teeth will chip! Grinding your teeth will also cause your teeth to become damaged over time, and can even result in them becoming chipped. The pain from a tooth getting chipped varies widely on how it was chipped. In the event that you are experiencing extreme pain, it is likely that your chipped tooth may be exposing sensitive nerves. Seek emergency care if you cannot manage the pain between the incident and a dental appointment.
What Causes a Cracked Tooth
There are a number of contributing factors as to how a tooth can become cracked. Some fractured teeth are the result of years of neglect, tooth decay, and poor oral hygiene. If a patient has had surgery on their teeth or more extreme dental fillings they are more likely to encounter a cracked tooth. Those who suffer from bruxism, or teeth grinding, can cause a cracked tooth over years of wear of repetitive stress. A cracked front tooth is more likely to be caused by physical impact. A strong hit to your mouth can break a tooth leaving you in severe pain. As we age the enamel becomes worn, which makes fractured teeth a more common issue. Some may have weaker teeth, whether from genetics, recklessness, or neglecting the health of their teeth to begin with. A very common cause of broken teeth is biting down on hard foods, or even using your teeth as a tool to break something inedible. Candies, snacks, popcorn kernels, ice, and many other items we eat can easily cause a break. Depending on the health of your teeth some may even experience a break when chewing foods like stale bread.
Determining if Your Fractured Tooth Requires Emergency Treatment
Sometimes a broken tooth will not require immediate treatment, however, there are some signs to look for to best determine how to proceed. A tooth abscess can be caused by bacteria getting inside a cracked tooth. Common symptoms of a tooth abscess are extreme temperature sensitivity, redness inside and outside of your mouth, and intense pain. Any severe pain should be taken seriously, and could even mean that an infection has started to take place. A cracked tooth can be exposed to bacteria which causes an infection. If you believe an infection has begun it’s important to seek emergency care before the situation gets worse if you are unsure about whether your fractured tooth is an emergency contact Buckeye Immediate Care or your healthcare professional immediately.
Buckeye Immediate Care Emergency Teeth Services
The Buckeye Immediate Care clinic provides full-service dental emergency treatments. We offer emergency repairs for dental implants, emergency tooth extractions, wisdom teeth extractions, infection management and pain management, root canals, dental fillings, tooth repair, and general emergency dentistry. Our clinic provides a walk-up service, so if you are in need of immediate dental care Buckeye Immediate Care welcomes you! Our services are provided throughout the entire week, and we offer late-night emergency services on weekends.
Get Emergency Care for Cracked Teeth
When a cracked tooth is painful or showing concerning symptoms it’s important to seek immediate care. In situations where your standard dental office isn’t available, emergency dental clinics can provide the services you need. Buckeye Immediate Care accepts walk-in patients and can help you resolve your oral emergency.