Fractured Teeth Need Attention from a Dental Specialist for Treatment

You may have fractured teeth like cracks or breaks in the crown of your tooth. The outer shell of your tooth, the enamel, protects the softer inner pulp of the tooth containing the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Depending on the type of fracture you have incurred, the tooth may either cause pain or remain penniless.

If you experience pain when chewing food or sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, you may have a fractured tooth. Pain with fractured teeth is intermittent and can come and go making it challenging for the dentist near you to detect the fracture, especially if it is tiny.

If you suspect you have a fractured tooth, you must schedule an appointment with the dental office in Palm Beach as soon as possible. Leaving the condition untreated leads to more problems, pain, and discomfort over time.

What Are the Symptoms of Fractured Teeth?

A fractured tooth does not necessarily cause problems. Many people have fractured teeth and don’t realize it. Some types of fractures are harmless and do not require treatment. However, if you notice the following symptoms, you may have an extensive fracture needing treatment from the dentist in Palm Beach, FL. The symptoms are:

• Pain when chewing or biting.
• Swollen gums around the fractured tooth.
• Teeth are becoming sensitive to hot and cold foods besides the sweetness.
• Pain causing discomfort intermittently.
• Discomfort around the teeth and gums is challenging to pinpoint.

What Causes Teeth Fractures?

The reasons for teeth fractures include biting down too hard on a piece of food, excessive grinding of your teeth, physical injury, or a large filling weakening the remaining tooth structure. Sudden temperature changes and also crack teeth. For example, such occurrences are common if you burn your mouth when drinking a hot beverage and soothing your mouth with some cold water.

Diagnosing Fractured Teeth

Diagnosing a cracked tooth is challenging even for dentists. If you have an invisible crack, the dentist tries to diagnose the condition by inquiring about your dental history and the symptoms. They will also examine the teeth using dental tools to help identify the cracks. A dental explorer is also used to identify rough cracks or edges on the teeth’s surface. Dental dyes also make cracks more visible.

Palm Beach cosmetic dentistry will check your gums or signs of inflammation during the examination because the cracks can irritate the gums. They may also ask you to bite down on something to pinpoint the source of the pain. X-rays are also taken even though they don’tdon’t provide information on where the cracks are located. However, they reveal problems with the pulp of the tooth. If the pulp appears unhealthy, it indicates a break.

Types Of Fractured Teeth

Cracks on your teeth can vary in length, location, and depth. The tiniest cracks are called craze lines developing on the tooth enamel. Craze lines are unnoticeable and require no treatment unless they cause symptoms. Other types of breaks include:

• Oblique supragingival cracks only affect the crown without extending below the gum line.
• Oblique subgingival cracks are extending below the gum line pain. Treatment is essential to expose the crown and restore the tooth.
• Split tooth. You may have a split tooth if the fracture has split the tooth into two. Dentists will likely save one part of the tooth restoring it with a crown. You may also need a root canal treatment during the restoration.
• Oblique root cracks usually don’t appear on the surface of the tooth, and the damage occurs below the gum line and the jawbone. In such cases, an extraction is the only treatment for this condition.
• A fractured cusp occurs when a piece of the chewing surface of the tooth breaks. Fractured cusps are routinely treated with dental fillings.
• Vertical apical root cracks begin at the tooth’s root and extend beyond the crown, varying in length. Extracting the tooth is the best remedy for this condition which is painful.

Treatment Options for Fractured Teeth

The optimal treatment depends on the location of the crack and the extent of the damage. Tiny cracks often require no treatment if they are causing no discomfort. Treatments for fractured teeth include tooth-colored dental filling or dental bonding if the fracture is minor. Another option is Palm Beach veneers. However, if the tooth damage is extensive dental crown is often optimal for the treatment.

If you suspect you have a teeth fracture, you must contact the Palm Beach dentist to receive treatment as soon as possible.