Your teeth are designed to tear, crush, and grind your food while eating. This means they are durable and can withstand a great amount of wear and tear without issue. However, accidents can happen that may result in a broken tooth.
A dental fracture might occur due to an ill-timed bite, a blow to the face, or another incident that generates a high level of pressure on the tooth. If this injury occurs, your tooth becomes vulnerable to further damage. Do not delay seeking emergency dental treatment for a fractured tooth.
You can better take swift action in this scenario when you recognize the signs of this dental injury. Read on to discover three symptoms you may experience if you sustain a fractured tooth.
Visible Tooth Breakage
When you picture a broken tooth, you likely imagine a noticeable crack in the tooth’s surface. You can indeed see visible cracks or chips in a fractured tooth. So pay attention to the appearance of your tooth if you suspect you suffered this injury.
In the event of minor tooth breakage, a dentist might suggest cosmetic dental treatments like bonding to repair small chips or cracks. But a fracture involves a deeper crack in the tooth that will usually require a dental crown to cover and restore health, function, and aesthetics to the tooth.
You should note that not all cases of a dental fracture will have a noticeable crack in the tooth. Sometimes, the fracture might occur between the teeth or below the gumline, where the naked eye cannot spot it. Be on the lookout for other symptoms that could indicate this dental injury.
Oral Pain
Oral pain of any kind is abnormal, and it is often the primary symptom in cases of tooth fractures. A crack in the tooth will expose nerves within the tooth’s interior. As a result, you could feel sharp jolts of pain, also known as tooth sensitivity, when something touches the tooth.
Pain from a fractured tooth could also manifest in a constant aching or soreness on or around the tooth. It may also feel like an intense, shooting pain within the tooth. In any of these cases, you should make an appointment with your dentist right away.
Swelling Around the Mouth
If you suffer a tooth fracture, the resulting damage opens a pathway for oral bacteria to reach the sensitive pulp of the tooth. If this happens, you might develop an infection.
Bacterial deterioration can inflame the area, and you might see soreness and redness in the area as a result. This type of dental damage can lead to swelling around the tooth and surrounding gum tissue that you might notice outside of the mouth as well.
An infection is a serious problem, and you should reach out to your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist can explain details about the treatment you may need for your unique injury when you give them a call.