Cracked teeth can be really painful. When you chip, crack, or break a tooth you need to make an emergency dental appointment. Depending on the injury, the damage could be to multiple levels of the tooth. Regardless, you should make a dental appointment right away.
In case of any crack or damage to your tooth, you can take some steps to keep it intact. The most important thing is to make an emergency dental appointment. In the meantime, you can rinse your mouth with warm water, use painkillers to manage the pain, and use cold compression to reduce swelling. This will help you avoid further injury until you reach the dentist. If you break a tooth, consider applying pressure to stop bleeding. In the meantime, search for the broken piece of your tooth and bring it to your doctor to see if it can be replaced.
You should know various types of cracked tooth in order to attend them immediately.
Oblique supra-gingival: These cracks affect the crown of your tooth and do not extend below gum line, they are mildly painful.
Oblique sub-gingival: These are more painful and extend below your gums. Because of this, root canal or other below-the-gum treatment may be necessary.
Split tooth: A split tooth is a crack that has broken the tooth into two distinct halves. Dentists will usually restore one of the pieces, and use it as a base for a crown. Sometimes, a root canal is necessary depending upon split-depth.
Oblique root: These cracks happen below the gum line. Tooth extraction is usually the only remedy to treat this type of crack.
If you are dealing with a dental emergency and need help, please contact our offices in Chicago, we can help you handle dental issues including cracked, broken, or damaged teeth.
