24 hours emergency dentist shares everything you should know about tooth fracture

A cracked or fractured tooth is a common dental condition although it is a scary one. People who suffer from this problem are often left with no other option but to wonder whether they can ever recover from their fractured tooth or not. According to experienced dentists working at the renowned private practice Emergency Dental Clinic Chelsea one of the helpful factors fighting this condition is raising awareness among people. As a sufferer to the problem when you are aware about the treatment options that are available along with a few homecare techniques, that really goes a long way overcoming this hurdle.

What exactly is a fractured tooth?

The way we conduct our lives every day, often leads to the formation of cracks or fractures in our natural tooth structures. Using the teeth as a tool to –

• Removing staples
• Open bottles
• Munching on ice
• Tearing open packages

In addition to the factors above, receiving a blow on the face or the jaws may also result in a fractured tooth or teeth. It could be an accidental fall, a fistfight or a sports injury especially from physical contact games.

By no chance a broken or fractured tooth is a subtle issue. Even if it remains unnoticed because of its location or size, in course of time if the problem is left untreated, it will create discomfort and inconveniences. The discomfort could either be minor or major and the only way to avoid it is providing medical treatment to sort out the condition. Modern dentistry has improved a lot to solve the problem of a broken or fractured tooth or teeth with plenty of treatment options.   

More about cracks, breakage or fractured tooth

Our tooth is guarded by a protective enamel coating on its outermost side. The enamel is the hardest tissue found in the human body. This enamel protects the inner structures of the tooth from wear and damages. It also acts as a shield to protect the softer dentin layer from corrosive action of acidic foods, drinks and even certain medicines. Although pretty strong and durable, but still the enamel is breakable.  And this is how your tooth sustains cracks, fractures and physical damages.

Diagnosis and symptoms

Usually a fracture in the tooth shows no noticeable symptom and this makes diagnosis of the condition difficult in the initial stages, says a 24/7 emergency dentist in London. However in advanced stages as the problem goes deeper certain symptoms will show up which include the following –

• Sensitivity to heat, cold and sweetness
• A sense of discomfort while biting or chewing (the discomfort is the strongest as you release pressure on the tooth)
• Pain which starts light and then gradually becomes severe
• As the infection sets in the area around the cracked or broken tooth becomes swelled up and inflamed

Prevention of tooth fractures

If you want to know how to prevent fractures in the tooth then you should better know such fractures can never ever be completely prevented. But there are a few simple precautionary measures that you can follow to become less prone to setting in of fractures in the teeth. The tips include –

• Stop chewing on hard non food items like pen caps and pencil tips (remember, even ice cube is not a food for humans as such)
• Stop biting nails with the teeth; instead use a nail cutter
• Stop frequent consumption of hard and crunchy food items
• Stop using the teeth as a tool to open up packages, opening staples and bottles
• Avoid cracking nuts and shells with the teeth, especially after turning 40
• Avoid clenching and grinding of the teeth

In addition to the tips above, a busy 24hr emergency dentist in London adds you suffer from bruxism or play any kind of contact sports, make sure to wear a custom fitted mouth guard

Different types of fractures the tooth may suffer from

Fractures in the teeth are of various types and include the following –

• Cracked tooth
• Craze lines
• Split root
• Fractured cusp
• Vertical root fracture

Some fractures in the teeth are actually severe conditions and require emergency care and treatment from a qualified dentist. On the other hand minor fractures and breakages require no treatment. This difference is made by different degrees of cracks that occur on the teeth.  When a tooth gets fractured or cracked, lines come up on its surface. Some fractures may lead to breaking or splitting of a tooth into a number of pieces. In the real world fractures in the tooth are a common occurrence. Diagnosing such cases and preparing effective treatment plans are something that dentists cannot ignore. While dealing with these cases dentists have to consider the best time to intervene in a fractured or broken tooth.

• Craze lines – A busy 24 hour emergency dentist in London says that craze lines are actually micro fractures to a tooth that affect only the outermost enamel layer. So these are also called enamel infractions and these fractures never do penetrate the inner dentin layer of the tooth. Trauma to the tooth is a major reason behind appearance of craze lines.
• Fractured cusp – this range of fractures appears on the side of the tongue and cases of fractured cusp are quite common. The problem usually brings no pain with it.
• Cracked tooth – Dentists term this as incomplete fracture. The crack may occur at the tooth crown or top and may move vertically toward the bottom or root of the tooth.
• Split tooth – It is a complete fracture that starts from the crown or a tooth and extends toward the bottom or root, explains a 24 hours dentist in London. The tooth may split completely apart in this condition.