Think You Cracked Your Tooth Eating Your Thanksgiving Meal? Information That Will Help You

If you think you cracked your tooth while you were eating something at your Thanksgiving dinner, you need to call your dentist as soon as you can. A cracked tooth has a crack that extends vertically starting from the chewing service. Your tooth is not completely separated into pieces in the beginning, but if you do not get it taken care of, the crack will slowly spread, causing the problem to become much worse. Below is some information about cracked teeth that you should find helpful.

Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth

If you have a cracked tooth, you will likely feel pain in that tooth when you drink something hot or cold. You may also feel pain when you bite down on that tooth. In the beginning, you will not have constant pain, however, as you would if you had a cavity.

Crack Stops at Gum Line

If the crack stop at your gum line, the dentist can repair it using a crown.  A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that the dentist will place over the cracked tooth. This completely covers the tooth to restore the size, strength, shape, and appearance. On your first visit, the dentist will make a mold of the tooth and send it to a lab. They will make the crown and it will match the color of the tooth.

The dentist will place a temporary crown over the tooth until the permanent crown is finished. The temporary crown uses an adhesive to attach it to your tooth. When you receive the permanent crown, the dentist cements it permanently on the tooth.

Crack Reaches Pulp of Tooth

If the crack reaches the pulp of the tooth, you will have to have a root canal procedure and a crown to repair it. With a root canal, the dentist will remove the infected pulp and then carefully clean and disinfect the inside of the tooth. The dentist will then fill and seal the tooth with a rubber-like material. After the root canal procedure is finished, the dentist will place a crown over the tooth to protect it.

Crack Goes Below Gum Line

If the crack goes below the gum line, the tooth would have to be extracted. At this point, you could either do without the tooth or you could get a dental implant to replace it. The dental implant is a tapered post that is generally made of titanium. The dentist will surgically place the post into your jawbone. As you go through the healing process, the implant will fuse with your jawbone to form a strong foundation. Dental implants look like natural teeth and you would likely never have to have it replaced.

Your dentist can go over these procedures with you in much more detail. Contact a company like Oral Surgery Center to learn more.

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