Are you a sports athlete who has had a contact injury? Did you slip and fall in an accident and hurt your mouth? If so, you have probably experienced a chipped, cracked, or broken tooth. Depending on the nature of the injury, this breakage may or may not cause pain. This causes patients to wonder whether it is cause for emergency at all. So, do I need to fix a broken tooth?
Do I Need to Fix a Broken Tooth?
Those who may be asking themselves, “Do I need to fix a broken tooth?” should know that it is always important to seek dental care for an injury. Whether or not you feel symptoms of pain, here is what the experts at My Dentist Anaheim want you to know about the importance of fixing broken teeth ASAP.
Causes of Broken Teeth
Teeth are sensitive parts of the body, and they can break or chip for a number of reasons. Some of the biggest causes of broken and cracked teeth include:
- Consistent grinding and gnashing of the teeth
- Physical blow to the mouth after sports injury or car accidents
- Quick and extreme changes in temperature in the mouth
- Aging and weakening immune system
- Improper fillings
Some dental injuries may seem mild, especially if they cause no pain or discomfort. But even a slight crack can lead to more serious dental issues if left untreated.
Dangers of Broken Teeth
A split or fracture in the tooth might not seem like a big deal. Cracks are common, and most people who experience dental injuries have no trouble eating and speaking normally. However, your untreated tooth could still pose a lot of risks to the body.
Infection
Parts of your teeth that have chipped or cracked have most likely exposed part of the inner layers of your teeth, making them more susceptible to infection. Bacteria from food and other outside particles can get into the roots of your teeth, spreading decay throughout the rest of your mouth.
Injury
You run the risk of spreading your injury to other parts of your mouth. A tooth with a jagged edge that has chipped off is a hazard to the rest of your mouth, as you can cut your lip or gums on that rough edge. This can be fixed up with restorative dentistry treatments dental bonding or a porcelain veneer.
Best Treatments for a Broken Tooth
Depending on the nature and severity of your broken tooth, a variety of treatment solutions are available. Smaller fractures and cracks may allow you to save your tooth, while bigger breaks might require you to invest in a root canal or tooth extraction. Small cracks and chips can be treated with dental bonding, which applies a strong adhesive to the affected area. A dental light dries the adhesive for a pain-free repair procedure. Larger fractures and broken teeth may require a root canal, which is a treatment that deadens your nerve and scrapes away the infected areas. You can salvage your natural tooth with this procedure. As a last resort, tooth extractions are available for teeth that are unsalvageable. Severe injuries may result in permanent tooth loss, and an extraction is necessary to get rid of the dead tooth before it can spread infection to the rest of your mouth.
Invest in the Best Dental Treatments Today!
At My Dentist Anaheim, we offer the very best in dental treatment and prevention. At the first sign of a dental injury, you should visit your local specialist and set up an appointment for a proper diagnosis. Without treatment, even the mildest of tooth cracks can lead to some serious oral health issues. Learn more about our treatments for root canal and dental bonding in Anaheim by getting in touch with our experts today. Don’t wait to invest in your oral health!