Dealing with Fractured and Broken teeth
Teeth are strong but they can still chip, crack, fracture, and break. It can happen because of several reasons like
- when you bite on something hard
- when you get hit in the face or in the mouth
- when you fall
- when you have cavities that make the tooth weak
When a tooth chips or breaks, it may not hurt at first. In fact, you may not even notice the damage. Small tooth fractures do not usually cause any pain but if a large piece of the tooth breaks off, it can hurt a lot. This is because the nerve inside the tooth may become damaged. Moreover, it will be exposed to bacteria through the air and saliva. Sensitivity to hot and cold drinks will increase and may be very uncomfortable. The pain from a broken tooth or a cracked tooth can be constant or can come and go. A lot of people feel pain when they chew because of the pressure on the tooth.
What can you do about fractured or broken teeth?
There is no way you can treat a cracked tooth at the comfort of your own home. You will need to go out and seek a dentist. In some cases, teeth will only hurt when you chew or when the temperature in your mouth changes. If your tooth hurts constantly then there may be damaged nerves and blood vessels. This is serious and you must contact your dentist immediately.
If you have a broken tooth then you must see your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist can figure out if the breakage was caused by cavities or not. Your dentist can also find out whether your tooth's nerves are in danger. Adults with damaged nerves will require root canal treatment in most cases. For children, the damaged nerve could probably still be repaired if the dentist can treat the problem right away. Before you even get to the dentist's office, you must
- save the pieces of your tooth because your dentist may be able to cement the tooth back together
- rinse your mouth with warm water and rinse the tooth pieces as well
- put a gauze on any of the bleeding areas for about ten minutes and wait for the bleeding to stop
- apply a cold pack to the cheek or lips over the broken tooth so that the swelling and pain subside
- if you can not get a dentist right away, you should cover the part of the tooth that is in your mouth with temporary dental cement which can be found at drugstores
- take an over-the-counter painkiller if needed
What will your dentist do to the fractured teeth?
There are several types of tooth fractures and breakages. Each type will require a different treatment. For minor cracks or crazed lines, the effect is mainly on the enamel or outer layer of the tooth. Minor cracks will rarely need treatment however; your dentist may polish the area to smooth out any rough spots on the tooth.
For a cracked tooth, the type of fracture will involve the whole tooth. This pertains to the chewing surface all the way down to the nerves of the tooth. The piece will remain in place but the crack will spread. The cracks can be repaired with filling material and sometimes crowns are needed in order to prevent the crack from becoming worse. If the pulp is damaged then you may need to have a root canal treatment too.
For chips on a tooth, you may not need any treatment especially if the chip is hardly noticeable. Your dentist may suggest that the chip be filled in order to prevent any further damage and to prevent the chip from getting worse. The chip will also look better if it is filled. If the chip is very small then the dentist can simply polish and smoothen out the chipped area.
For a broken cusp, the pointed chewing surfaces of the teeth, there won't be much pain. However, if it interferes with your chewing then the damage has to be repaired. In some cases, the dentist can use a file to restore the shape of the tooth. In other cases, an onlay or a crown is placed on the tooth.
For seriously broken teeth that even have exposed nerves, a root canal treatment and a crown is usually administered. At first, the tooth will hurt and it will be sensitive. It may even bleed. The root canal and crowning will restore the tooth's functionality so that you can chew properly.
For a split tooth or when the tooth has been split vertically into two parts, there are several procedures that have to be done. For some teeth like your back teeth and molars, it is possible to keep one of the roots which will later on be covered with a crown. The first step is to have a root canal treatment. Then, your dentist will remove any roots that can not be kept. Finally, a crown will be installed in order to cover the root and replace the tooth. If the root of the tooth can not be saved then it might have to be removed already.
For vertical breaks or split root, usually the tooth is removed. The cracks start at the root of the tooth and extend all the way upward to the chewing surface. The breaks are sometimes painful because the area around the root is inflamed or infected.
For a decay-induced break, the tooth is usually removed. Your dentist will first assess how the tooth has succumbed to cavities. Then, the dentist will recommend the best way to restore the tooth. Otherwise, it has to be removed.