What Happens if You Leave a Broken Tooth?
Relative to other dental concerns, such as gum disease, losing a tooth, or even having oral cancer, it seems like having a broken tooth is not so important. You could be very wrong. Neglecting treatment for a broken tooth and managing your symptoms on your own may cause the condition to worsen. Pain or discomfort are not the only symptoms you could experience, and your broken tooth may also require more extensive treatment if you postpone any treatment. Your dentist understands the consequences of a broken tooth and will prepare the proper restoration treatment for your personal situation. To help you grasp the urgency and importance of pursuing immediate assistance for a broken tooth, here are several facts to determine the severity of your broken tooth.
The Causes for a Broken Tooth
A broken tooth can result from multiple causes. Even though the outside enamel of the tooth is one of the hardest substances in your body, a tooth can still be broken. Some probable causes could be:
- An untreated cavity that has weakened the tooth.
- An unfortunate fall, accident, or sports-related injury.
- Biting down on hard food or a hard object.
- A large dental filling weakens the tooth.
- Constant bruxism, which is the clenching and grinding of your teeth.
- Using your teeth as a tool, opening items, biting pencils, or biting your fingernails.
Leaving a broken tooth untreated may result in the pulp, which is at the center of the tooth, and the live tissues inside the pulp chamber, becoming infected. Once your tooth is infected, the chance of losing that natural tooth increases greatly. The sooner you pursue proper treatment, the better the chances of preventing any further progression of the broken tooth, alleviating any unnecessary pain, and saving your natural tooth by prohibiting damaging bacteria and infection from entering the tooth.
How Can a Broken Tooth be Treated?
Unlike some oral issues that can often be successfully treated and resolved at home, a broken tooth will require an immediate evaluation by your dental professional. As soon as you begin to experience discomfort that increases in intensity when you bite down, and there may also be an increase in sensitivity with either hot or cold temperature, it is in your best interests to request immediate attention to have your broken tooth repaired and restored.
Your dentist will examine the broken tooth and take an X-ray to determine the condition of the tooth below the gum surface. Once identified, your dentist will properly treat the broken tooth. If the tooth is simply chipped or fractured on the surface, a simple dental bonding procedure will restore and protect the tooth. If the pulp has become infected, then root canal therapy is necessary, usually followed by the addition of a dental crown over the tooth to protect the natural tooth. The final option would be to extract the tooth. The dental industry has been taught and trained to take all measures possible to save every natural tooth. If an extraction is the necessary solution, your dentist might suggest several restoration options to replace the tooth, such as a traditional dental bridge or an innovative dental implant.