A tooth fracture is a break or crack in the enamel and dentin of your tooth. Fractures are heavily restored teeth or teeth with underlying large cavities. Often, tooth fractures occur in the front teeth in the upper jaw because of their position in the oral cavity. The severity of the fracture depends upon the energy, shape, and resilience of the impacting object. Moreover, the direction of the impact on the oral structures determines the implications of dental trauma.
Altogether, depending on the crack position and degree, the result from the fracture can be catastrophic. This necessitates diagnosis of any cracks and development of a course of treatment, thus ensuring tooth longevity.
The question is, how do you identify a crack in your tooth, thus avoiding a catastrophic end like the complete loss of the tooth?
This is often the first indicator of a cracked tooth. The pain can be due to the swelling of the gum and surrounding tissue. Notably, the fracture might expose your pulp to the different foods you partake. Additionally, the fractures might give bacteria access to your pulp & tooth nerves, making it exceedingly susceptible. Altogether, these cause pain when biting and chewing.
You might start to notice that you experience pain when you bite into hot foods or drink a cold beverage. Further, you might begin to experience greater sensitivity when eating sweet or sour foods. This increased sensitivity is a sign you have a cracked tooth.
When a cracked tooth remains untreated, your pulp becomes infected. These infections cause increased pain, bad breath, and increased swelling around the affected tooth. When it remains unchecked, the infection spreads from the tooth to the jaw and finally to the surrounding bones and soft tissues.
With a cavity, it is possible to spot signs of decay. For instance, you might see a dark spot on the tooth’s surface or signs of enamel erosion. For a cracked tooth, you see no apparent symptoms. You experience the discomfort of biting and chewing without any indicators that you can quickly point out.
Tooth fractures can vary in length, depth, and location of the tooth.
Several factors might increase the chances of tooth fractures. These include:
Understanding the signs of a possible tooth fracture is the first step towards the management of the same. Notably, you might require a radiological examination if the fracture involved the pulp. Altogether, tooth fractures require prompt treatment for restoration of their function. When you discover you have the signs of a fractured tooth, seek immediate treatment to avoid a root canal, and in some severe cases, the complete removal of the tooth.