Warning Signs of a Fractured Tooth

Posted on: 9 November 2022

Fractured tooth remediation is more likely to be successful when it's performed as quickly as possible. You may think that there's little room for confusion when a tooth is fractured. After all, the crack in the tooth's surface should be plainly visible. Oftentimes there are other warning signs well before you're able to see any cracks in the tooth. So what should you be looking out for, and what type of treatment is your tooth likely to need?

Physical Trauma

There are multiple reasons why a tooth may fracture. It could be caused by physical trauma or a hard smack to the mouth. If you experience such an injury, always have your teeth checked out.

Corrosion and Decay

Fractures aren't always due to an accident either. Your tooth could be weakened by corrosion and decay, and so simple bite pressure may eventually have stretched the tooth beyond its limits. Teeth that were previously restored in a procedure that removed some of their enamel and dentin can be compromised, and thus more susceptible to fractures. You may not even have been aware of the fracture when it occurred.

Sharp Pain

Fractured teeth tend to become quite painful, but only under certain circumstances. You may notice a sharp pain when biting, which immediately subsides when you stop eating. This is because the application of pressure to the tooth causes the two fractured segments to press against each other, triggering a reaction in the tooth's nerve.

Temperature Sensitivity

Additionally, the tooth may become more sensitive to temperatures. Since the tooth's protective enamel has been fractured, the dentin beneath is exposed. This dentin surrounds the tooth's nerve and contains innumerable tiny canals, all traveling from the exterior of the dentin to the nerve. It's possible for the nerve to be exposed to the temperatures of foods and drinks you consume. Your pain upon biting and temperature sensitivity will progressively get worse.

Treatment for the Fracture

A visible crack in the tooth can actually be a later warning sign of a fracture. If the fracture has extended to the gum line, the tooth may be too far gone to be saved. This is why any early warning signs must be checked out as soon as possible, as the tooth can generally be saved. Should the crack extend into the tooth's interior and affect its nerve, you may need a root canal. The tooth can then be secured with a dental crown. But remember that not all cracks are so serious, and sometimes only surface repairs are needed—so all your dentist might have to do is patch the crack with tooth-colored dental resin.

An untreated tooth fracture can eventually mean the tooth will be lost, so always have suspected symptoms checked out.

Reach out to a service such as Dental Clinic of Onalaska to find out more.

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