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Everything You Need To Know About Fractured Tooth Treatment

Emergency Dental Treatment in Manchester

by admin on October 16, 2017

Posted in blogs

Unfortunately, there are plenty of ways our teeth can become damaged. Falling face down onto the pavement (ouch!) grinding your teeth like crazy through the night or biting down with gusto onto something unexpectedly hard, might well leave you looking for emergency dental treatment in Manchester sooner than you might imagine.

But if any of the above has happened to you, don’t worry. Your smile can be repaired with some type of restorative or cosmetic procedure such as fractured tooth treatment depending on how badly damaged your tooth is. Whatever the case, you’ve got plenty of options so you needn’t live with unattractive teeth!

So why do our teeth fracture or crack?

Hang on a minute, isn’t the enamel that covers our teeth supposed to be the strongest tissue in our bodies? The answer is indeed yes – but that doesn’t mean it’s totally invincible!

As briefly mentioned at the outset, a traumatic accident can easily cause a tooth to fracture. In fact, even something as mundane as chewing your pencil or biting your fingernails can cause some serious tooth damage and leave you looking for the nearest Manchester dental emergency practice. That’s not to mention the risks involved for those who play contact sports without wearing a mouth guard.

Poor oral health is another common reason for a tooth fracture. Leaving tooth decay untreated is never a good idea and can cause a lot of damage to be done. Decay eventually weakens the tooth structure and leaves teeth more susceptible to breaking when you eat hard foods, such as boiled sweets and crusty bread.

What type of cracks are there?

Believe it or not, there are a few different types of fractured teeth – depending on where the position and extent of the crack is. The five main types are:

Craze lines – these are tiny fractures of the enamel only and are very common. They don’t cause any pain and don’t need treating unless it’s for aesthetic reasons.
Fractured cusp – the cusp is the pointy corner part of a tooth. When it becomes weakened it could fracture or break off. This rarely damages the nerve of the tooth but may need a dental crown for future protection.
Cracked tooth – is when there’s a crack that runs from the biting surface of a tooth down towards the root and sometimes it can run below the gum line. A cracked tooth normally means the inner tissue of the tooth is damaged and might cause you to need emergency dental treatment in Manchester.
Split tooth – this is often the result of an untreated cracked tooth and is identified by a crack with distinct segments. Unfortunately, the tooth can’t be saved fully intact at this stage. However depending on the extent and position of the crack, sometimes part of the tooth can be salvaged.
Vertical root fracture – this type of fracture starts at the root and extends up towards the chewing surface of a tooth. Sadly the prognosis for this type of fracture is pretty much hopeless in all cases.

Okay, so how do I know if my tooth is cracked or not?

Here are a few hints:

– Is there a visible fracture line?

– Do you have pain when you chew or bite?

– Does the pain come and go?

– Is your tooth sensitive to hot or cold temperatures?

While a broken tooth can sometimes be fairly obvious, the signs can also be quite difficult to spot, particularly because they can vary. For example, you might get the occasional pain from time to time when you are eating or you may be sensitive to sweet foods but have no signs of decay.

So I’ve broken my tooth – what exactly will fractured tooth treatment involve?

Well treatment all really depends on the position and extent of the crack. But here’s a few possible procedures that emergency dental treatment Manchester for a cracked tooth might just involve:

Fillings or bonding

When the fracture is only minor, you might get away with only a filling in order to repair your tooth. For this, we’ll use a tooth-coloured composite resin and make sure it matches up with the rest of your teeth, particularly if it’s in a fairly visible spot.

Root canal treatment

A root canal becomes necessary if the crack has made its way down the tooth to the nerve. If you’re getting sensitivity, toothache or swelling, it’s possible that this is why. Root canal treatment involves removing the irritated nerve and decay, cleaning the area and then sealing it. Afterwards, a crown will more than likely be needed for extra strength and protection.A dental crown

Crowns are the most common form of treatment for fractured or broken teeth. This is because they fit over the tooth and make it stronger. They can be made from a variety of materials such as ceramic, porcelain, metal or resin. Having a dental crown usually takes two visits. The first visit is for the preparation and impressions which are then sent to the dental laboratory and the second visit will be to fit your new crown.

Extraction

Sometimes though, the tooth is just too far gone and can’t be saved. Sadly there’s nothing that can be done for a fractured tooth when the crack extends right down below the gum line. In this case, the whole tooth will need to be removed. At our practice in Manchester dental emergency treatments that involve extraction are the worst case scenario, but if it does happen, there are possible tooth replacement options available that are very natural looking such as having dental implants.

So there you have it, everything you need to know about broken teeth and fractured tooth treatment. Remember, if you think you have a broken tooth, its best to seek emergency dental treatment in Manchester as soon as possible to prevent the tooth from getting worse. To make an appointment, call our team on 0161 485 7376 today!

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