It might seem like it’s not a big deal if you have a cracked or broken tooth that isn’t painful or particularly visible, but the reality is that the chances of complications increase the longer a cracked tooth is left unrepaired, and these complications can be serious and include the eventual loss of the tooth. Even when the tooth can be saved, a cracked tooth can grow painful over time and is also more prone to infection, which is not only painful but dangerous. Not only that, as a fracture progresses, so does the complexity of treatment for the broken tooth. The optimal course of action with a broken tooth is to have it repaired as soon as possible, restoring its structural integrity and preventing these negative repercussions from occurring in the first place.
Fractured or broken teeth require dental attention for treatment; a cracked tooth is not something that can be treated at home. Before treating a cracked tooth, the dentist will take x-rays to ascertain the breadth of the damage and determine the optimal course of treatment. When the fracture is minor and treated promptly, the dentist can usually repair the crack with composite bonding, dental veneers, or another cosmetic dental restoration that plays a similar role as the dental enamel, protecting the interior structure of the tooth and maintaining its shape and strength. If the damage to the tooth is more extensive, other treatments may be needed. When the pulp inside of the tooth is damaged, a root canal may be necessary in order to save the tooth, and if infection is present inside the tooth and it is not treated with root canal therapy, the infection could spread from the tooth into the bloodstream and cause potentially life-threatening conditions. In some cases, the tooth is damaged too extensively to be repaired and may need to be extracted, and you and your dentist can discuss your options for replacing the tooth once it’s been removed. Leaving an extensively damaged tooth in the mouth increases the risk of infection and is also usually excruciatingly painful, so it shouldn’t be considered an option at all.
Despite the resiliency of dental enamel, which is the hardest substance in a person’s body, teeth can break or crack in all sorts of situations. If you grind or clench your teeth, which happens with a condition called bruxism, you’re more prone to dental fracture. People who use their teeth for tasks other than eating, like opening bottles or packages or chewing on ice, often suffer from dental fractures, and people who play contact sports also face increased risk. The teeth can break when a person falls or as a result of a blow to the face, and they can also crack when dental fillings are too large or in the case of untreated tooth decay with no fillings at all. If a dental fracture is small, you may not even notice it at first, but one of the first symptoms of a cracked tooth is usually pain or sensitivity that is triggered by biting down or by eating or drinking something that’s either very hot or very cold. If you notice sensitivity in an area of your tooth, make an appointment with your dentist, especially if it persists. Waiting will only make the problem worse and more difficult to treat, and it’s not going to go away on its own, so see your dentist for prompt, efficient treatment if you have a broken tooth.