A cracked or broken tooth can be frightening, and if it happens to you, remember the team at OnCall Dental in Fresno and Hanford.
Fractured teeth are actually fairly common. Whether you see us immediately depends on a few things. Is there any pain? Even if there isn’t it’s a good idea to take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofen. You should also rinse your mouth out right away. Use warm salt water.
You should also call our office right away, even if there isn’t any pain. Describe your condition in as much detail as you can, and from there we can decide on your best course of action.
Some of the factors involved:
- Location of the tooth in your mouth
- Severity of the break
- Your age
A small, surface-level chip may not require any treatment at all. The chipped area can be filed and polished, so there are not jagged edges.
Sometimes cracks involve the entire tooth. These are more serious because they can reach all the way to the nerve. Even if the tooth appears to be one piece, the crack can gradually spread and develop into a split.
More serious is what is called a vertical root fracture, which begins in the tooth root and moves upward. They don’t always have symptoms and you may not even know one is there. But they can lead to gum and bone infection.
Don’t take anything for granted. Any trauma to the mouth might crack a tooth, even if there aren’t any symptoms, so you should be examined. At OnCall Dental in Fresno and Hanford we treat all kinds of dental emergencies. In an emergency no appointment is needed. Walk-ins are always welcome!
