Cracked or fractured teeth are among the leading causes of tooth loss because they are fairly common occurrences. You can crack your tooth by chewing or biting hard foods, getting a blow to the jaw, pressure from teeth grinding, sudden changes in temperature or age.
Sometimes the fracture can be so small you barely even notice it, whereas other times, the crack can be so significant that it’s visible. Other times, the damage is so severe that you expose a nerve that is very painful.
So what should you do if you fracture your tooth?
Recognize the symptoms
First, you might experience some sharp pain when you chew or bite down. You could also have periodic pain, swollen gums around the hurt tooth, sudden sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, or a visible crack on the tooth. The symptoms you get will depend on the nature and severity of your fracture, but a DDS Dental Jenks professional can make a more reliable diagnosis.
Get treatment
After confirming you have a cracked tooth, the next step is getting treatment. Call your dentist right away and schedule an emergency appointment. If you are in severe pain, you can rinse out your mouth or take over-the-counter painkillers before getting to the dentist. Alternatively, you can use a cold compress to ease the pain and swelling as you head over to the dentists.
There are various ways a cracked tooth can be treated, such as getting a filling, dental cap, veneers, or a root canal. As you can see, they can’t be fixed without seeing a dentist, so if you crack your tooth, make sure to visit the dentist as soon as possible.
Cracking your tooth can be distressing; however, in most cases, it is treatable. With the right dental assistance, you can quickly recover from the broken tooth and regain your smile. If you are in Jenks and accidentally crack your tooth, don’t hesitate to contact us for help.
