Healthy, natural teeth are incredibly strong, but they don’t heal. Therefore, when a tooth’s structure becomes damaged, the threat to the tooth’s health and integrity will remain and grow worse over time. For example, if a tooth fractures, then the crack in its structure can grow larger as the tooth is exposed to more of your bite’s pressure. This can place the tooth at a much greater risk of being lost, and of developing more severe concerns in the process. To save a tooth after it fractures, you’ll have to have it assessed and treated as soon as possible at your dentist’s office.
What the fracture can cost the tooth
A tooth fracture can be minor when it first develops, or it can be significant from the very start, depending on what caused it. The problem is that, no matter how severe it is, a crack in your tooth’s structure makes the tooth weaker overall, and any additional pressure or friction can make the problem worse. In severe cases, a fracture can become so extensive that saving the tooth is no longer possible, such as if the fracture extends to the tooth’s root as well as its main crown structure.
What the tooth needs now
The good news is that, while a tooth can’t heal a fracture if it develops one, your dentist can successfully restore the tooth with customized treatment. The right tooth restoration can stop the fracture from progressing as you continue to bite and chew with the tooth, which lowers the risk of your tooth being lost or requiring more extensive treatment. If the fracture is significant enough to expose its pulp tissues, your tooth might also require root canal treatment to avoid the risk of severe, internal tooth infection before completing its restoration.
What if the fracture is too severe?
With prompt, personalized restorative treatment, most fractured teeth can be saved and regain their good health and function. However, this isn’t always the case, and in some extreme instances, a fractured tooth might need to be extracted and replaced with a dental implant and crown. This may occur if the initial trauma that fractures the tooth is severe, or if the initial fracture is allowed to get worse before the tooth is treated. With a dental implant and crown, your dentist can stop the fractured tooth from impacting the rest of your oral health and restore your bite’s ability to function properly.
Learn if we can save your fractured tooth
When a tooth becomes fractured, it may still be possible to save it with custom restorative treatment. To learn more, schedule an appointment with us by calling Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at 913-681-5500. We also serve patients who live in Overland Park and all surrounding communities.
