5 Tooth Fractures Facts You Must Be Aware Of

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Fractured teeth are more common than you might think. Different factors can cause your teeth to crack, chip, or break, inflicting terrible pain and potentially serious consequences. Fortunately, having your dentist diagnose the problem and provide treatment options can help you avoid unnecessary suffering and irreversible damage.

Keep reading to learn the five most crucial facts about tooth fractures, their signs, culprits, and treatment options.

1. Signs and symptoms of tooth fractures

Most people ignore tooth fractures for a while before treating them. They begin as tiny fissures on the normally smooth tooth surface, which are unseen by the human eye. Your dental specialist can determine whether you have them by applying detecting dyes to the teeth.

Some fractures are visible and can result in unattractive chips and cracks. One or more of your teeth may break in severe cases, exposing the pulp and a piece of dentin attached to your jawbone.

Small cracks in your teeth’ outer surface (also known as hairline cracks) may cause no discomfort. A severe crack, on the other hand, that causes tooth pieces to shift, could irritate the pulp's sensitive nerves, causing excruciating pain when you eat and talk. Besides, the pulp that has been exposed may be very sensitive to hot and cold foods and beverages.

2. Causes behind tooth fractures

Enamel, the hardest substance in your body, can only take so much abuse. If you violently bite down on a hard object, a break or a crack can easily form in it. A hit to the face or jaw can also cause teeth to break and chip. Even normal wear and tear can result in damage to your teeth, particularly in those over the age of 50 or those who experience bruxism.

3. Appropriate restorative options 

The severity of the fracture and the damaged area of the mouth are the two most important factors to consider when determining which treatment method is the most appropriate. If you have only one or a couple of tiny cracks, regular monitoring for changes may be sufficient. If the broken tooth is very sensitive or has been affected by bacteria and has sustained further damage, restorative treatment may be necessary.

Consider dental veneers to prevent and hide chips and fissures in your front teeth. This restorative procedure is both low-risk and affordable. If the affected tooth is weak or has undergone a root canal, a dental crown may be a better option.

4. Possible complications

Tooth fractures not only result in excruciating toothaches, but they also put you in danger of infection in your mouth. Bacteria can enter your tooth's inside through even the smallest pits and cracks in the enamel. Infection, terrible jaw pain and toothache are all possible outcomes.

An oral infection should not be taken lightly. Failure to treat it can lead to more severe complications. Bacteria can affect the roots of adjacent teeth or spread to other organs in your body through blood vessels in your jaw, drastically increasing your chances of getting potentially fatal infections. The best approach to avoid this is to seek treatment as soon as possible.

5. When pulling and replacing the tooth is necessary  A cracked tooth may not always be saved by restorative treatment. A deep split or crack cannot always be repaired by crowning the injured tooth. Your tooth could be permanently damaged, rendering it unable to sustain the crown.

If this is the case, your dentist may recommend that you get it extracted. Removal reduces the risk of subsequent infection while also relieving discomfort. Once the extraction site has healed, you can replace the extracted tooth with a dental implant.