If you chip or break a tooth, it is important to see your dentist as soon as possible to have the tooth evaluated. Whether or not you have any negative side effects, having a cracked or broken tooth repaired is vital to the overall health of your mouth.
No one plans on breaking a tooth, but sometimes, if you are hit in the mouth during physical sports, a fall, or a car accident, a tooth can be broken. Additionally, some patients are simply more susceptible to breaking a tooth: younger children, due to their higher activity level, and older adults, due to the aging process and the natural thinning of tooth enamel.
Is a broken tooth an emergency?
Any chip or fracture in a tooth can quickly turn into a dental emergency if it is left untended for too long. Even if you do not feel pain or any swelling, it is a good idea to have the tooth checked out. A tooth will not magically repair itself, and without timely intervention, it will only get worse and possibly lead to an infection and abscess. If you are unable to see your dentist because you are out of town or they are on holiday, most hospitals or urgent care clinics have a dentist on staff who can provide relief or even treatment.
It is important to call your dentist as soon as you notice a chip or breaking your tooth. Even if you experience a dental trauma outside of business hours, you can either leave a message, or most offices will provide an emergency number for patients to reach the doctor after hours. This way, they will be able to advise you in the meantime, then get you in the office the next business day to evaluate the damage and determine the best course of treatment.
If a large piece of tooth has broken off or your tooth is severely fractured, you will probably be uncomfortable, and your tooth may be sensitive to hot and cold foods and beverages. If a tooth is fractured through the enamel into the pulp, the pulp of the tooth can become infected from naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth and food particles, which can enter the tooth through the fracture.
If you develop an infection, you will need to have a root canal to clear out the infection before the fracture can be repaired. If a tooth splits into two separate pieces, it will likely be considered non-restorable and have to be extracted.
Experiencing a crack or broken tooth is not necessarily an emergency, but it is vital to have it repaired as soon as possible. Teeth can behave like dominoes; when one is compromised and begins to fail, healthy neighboring teeth begin to have issues as well.