Your teeth are an integral part of your body because they are one of the first things other people notice about your physical appearance. Other than that, they are also responsible for breaking down the food you eat. For this reason, you should take care of your teeth because you may suffer from oral diseases such as chipped teeth.
In this article, we’ll tell you all you need to know about chipped teeth. Read on below to get started.
What Is a Fractured Tooth?
A fractured tooth is often mistaken as a chipped or cracked tooth. In reality, they are two different things. If you have a chipped tooth, you’ll have a small chip in your tooth. In other words, you’ll only see a small patch on your tooth. On the other hand, if you have a cracked tooth, you’ll see a crack on your tooth that extends to the root.
There are several reasons why you may develop fractured teeth, such as an accidental fall, excessive chewing, and biting, or even poor oral hygiene. In most cases, fractured teeth will not appear overnight. If you look good, you’ll also feel good.
What Causes a Fractured Tooth?
Several things may cause a fractured tooth; here are some of them:
- Falling, tripping, or bumping into something
- Excessive chewing or biting too hard
- Facial trauma
- Dental trauma
- Impacted tooth
- Fractured tooth
- Cavity or decay
In most cases, you’ll have pain and swelling in your face when you have a fractured tooth. There are also many things that you can do to address this. However, if the fracture occurs near your nerve, you’ll feel pain or discomfort. In this case, you should see your dentist right away.
What Are the Symptoms of a Fractured Tooth?
If you have a fractured tooth, you’ll have some symptoms that will let you know something’s wrong, so let’s take a closer look at some of these symptoms:
- Your tooth will feel uncomfortable to chew or bite your food.
- Your tongue will go over the area where the tooth is damaged.
- You’ll have a toothache.
Some of the symptoms we’ve mentioned above may also appear in the case of a cracked tooth. If your tooth is just cracked, you’ll be able to repair it at home. However, if your tooth is fractured, you’ll need to consult with a dentist to understand the extent of your damage further.
How to Treat Fractured Teeth
The treatment of fractured teeth will depend on their severity. The doctor will evaluate the tooth’s condition using X-ray imaging to know if you have a fractured tooth. It’ll give them an idea of how to fix it.
Even if it’s a minor crack, you may still need to visit a dentist for proper treatment. All it will take is one rough bite to break a weakened tooth that you thought was already fine.
If the crack is small, your dentist will pry open the tooth to remove the edges of the tooth. However, if it’s a severe crack, it will be necessary to apply a veneer or bonding to cover the area where the crack is.
Conclusion
Remember, a fractured tooth will only get worse if left untreated. The symptoms we mentioned above might not appear overnight or even at one particular time. Whether you’re only a victim of a minor or severe crack, it’s still important to take care of it.
If you have a fractured tooth and you can’t do it on your own, you should go to your dentist. They will give you the necessary treatment, so you don’t have to wait for a long time.
Oro Valley Dental Arts offers dental services covering cosmetic, restorative, and more in Arizona. Schedule a visit with us today for your tooth extraction!
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