Teeth are made of three layers:
- An outer layer of shiny, protective enamel, the hardest substance in the human body
- A middle layer of dentin, the bulk of the tooth’s tissue that connects the tooth’s nerve endings to the outside world
- An inner core of pulp, vital tissue, rich with nerve endings and blood vessels, that keeps the tooth alive
If a tiny corner of enamel breaks off your tooth, you’ll probably want to get it filed or filled, but it isn’t urgent unless it hurts. When a tooth breaks beyond the enamel, into the dentin, leaving the pulp exposed, it will hurt, and you will want to see your dentist as soon as you can. If the pulp becomes infected, the tooth will die, and, if left untreated, infection could enter the bloodstream and cause major health complications that extend far beyond the teeth.
Some broken teeth might not need treatment, but your dentist will want to monitor things like craze lines to make sure they don’t turn into something more serious. Sometimes, though, you could have a broken tooth and not really know it; a crack on the back of a tooth, for example, might not make itself visible. If you notice minor changes in your oral health, like notably bad breath or a toothache, see your dentist. This could be an indication of a damaged tooth, and, regardless of pain level, the exposed or partly exposed pulp of a damaged tooth is more prone to infection. If a tooth does become infected, the primary treatment goal is to save the natural tooth and restore it with a crown. Sometimes, however, the tooth can’t be saved and must be extracted.
If you have any of the symptoms of a dental infection, contact your dentist immediately. These symptoms include:
- Intense or persistent tooth pain
- Sensitivity to extreme temperatures
- Tooth discoloration
- Swollen gum tissue
If your tooth pain interferes with your ability to function properly, or if you have a fever along with any of these symptoms, seek medical attention; don’t wait for an emergency dentist. An untreated infection can spread to the neck and head, and, if left untreated for long enough, could threaten fatality. The primary treatment for removing infected dental pulp is the root canal, which focuses on removing infected tissue, disinfecting and filling the pulp chamber, and restoring the bulk of the natural tooth structure. Ideally, this tooth structure is reinforced with a dental crown that protects it, allowing it to behave like a natural tooth and continue to sustain the mechanics of your day-to-day life. If damage to the tooth is too severe, however, the dentist may need to extract the tooth; in these cases, your dentist will review your options for dental restorations with you before you commit to any treatment.
Some minor cracks may not require treatment, but you should let your dentist be the judge of that. For minor fractures or cracks, your dentist might recommend a filling, bonding, or a crown, cosmetic restorations that repair or restore the protective structure of the tooth and the role the enamel once played. This is crucial to protecting the tooth’s pulp from infection, which means it’s crucial to keeping the tooth alive and protecting the integrity of the mouth and teeth.