Unfortunately, no matter what lengths you go to, to protect your teeth, sometimes accidents can happen. The chance of fracturing a tooth is more common than you might think and can be due to a number of different causes.
When it comes to dental problems, often people don’t think they need urgent treatment for multiple reasons. Sometimes, they may see the problem as minor and something that can be fixed at their next routine appointment, other times you might be unsure of what to do. However, if you notice you have a fractured tooth, then it’s important to know what steps to take in order to prevent permanent or further damage.
What Is A Fractured Tooth And How Is It Caused?
A fractured tooth is a break or crack in the tooth. There are different types of fracture that may cause minimal problems or a lot of pain. There are many causes behind a fractured tooth, including extreme tooth grinding that causes pressure on the teeth, a blow to the chin or lower jaw as well as gum disease. A fractured tooth can even happen as a result of chewing hard foods such as ice, nuts or sweets.
What Are The Signs Of A Fractured Tooth?
There are signs to look out for if you think you might have a fractured tooth. Most notably, tooth pain can be the sign of a fractured tooth. You may get pain from time to time when you are chewing, or you might feel a sharp pain when biting down that quickly disappears. Extreme temperatures might also cause you discomfort, for example drinking ice cold water, and this might be a sign that you have fractured a tooth.
However, it can also be difficult to spot any signs or symptoms if you have no pain at all or simply cannot see where the problem might be. It’s important to note what is causing you pain, as well as the area of the pain itself. This will help your dentist to determine the problem.
What Should I Do If I Think My Tooth Is Fractured?
If you think you have fractured a tooth, then it’s important to make an appointment with your dentist straight away, particularly if you are suffering with any pain. In the meantime, there are home remedies you can follow to relieve pain such as rinsing the mouth with warm water to keep it clean or taking over the counter pain relief medication.
A fractured tooth should not be left untreated. Not going to your dentist could result in further damage to your tooth or complications such as infection, so it’s best not to hold off making an appointment.
How Are Fractured Teeth Fixed?
The best treatment for your tooth will depend on its location and severity. One of the recommended treatments for a fractured tooth is composite bonding. This treatment uses tooth coloured resin to the affected tooth to improve its overall appearance. If you are in the London area, composite bonding from Ten Dental can also be used fill in gaps or improve the shape of your teeth in addition to repairing a fractured tooth.
Other treatments also include gluing on the chipped or broken part of the tooth, fillings or in more severe cases root canal treatment.
