When trying to determine if a broken tooth warrants urgent dental care, it’s challenging to know the signs to look for. Some dental breaks don’t cause serious damage. Some tooth repairs can wait until normal office hours.
A broken tooth requires prompt evaluation by a dentist. The type of treatment depends on what caused the break, but if you notice any of these symptoms, you need to find an emergency dentist right away.
1) Excessive Bleeding
In most cases, a dental break will cause a little bleeding. The small amount of blood coming from the broken tooth may not seem like a big deal. In fact, if you can see the tooth fragment, it probably doesn’t hurt that much.
But, if you notice excessive bleeding, it’s time to find an emergency dentist. If you can’t see the piece of tooth, it may still be somewhere in your mouth. If it has been damaged, it could be releasing toxins into your bloodstream.
2) Extreme Pain
If you’ve been crying because of the pain, it’s time to visit an emergency dentist. An unexpected tooth break can cause a lot of trauma to your mouth. The nerve endings in your gums and mouth can send a massive amount of pain to your brain.
Minor cuts or scrapes can cause a great deal of pain. That’s your body’s way of warning you that something is wrong. You can’t brush off the pain of a broken tooth.
3) Jagged Tooth Edges
If you can see or feel jagged edges on your tooth, it’s time to see an emergency dentist. Jagged edges around the section of your tooth can cause additional damage. They can scrape the inside of your mouth or damage the gums.
They can also catch on food and encourage an infection. Infected gums and mouth tissue are breeding grounds for different types of bacteria and viruses.
4) Split Tooth
A slightly split tooth won’t cause serious damage, but it will hurt. The cracks and fissures in the tooth can trap food and bacteria. They can also cause your tooth to get more damaged.
You aren’t likely to break a tooth and have it split into two pieces. The most common way for a tooth to split is for it to get knocked out of place. Some people can’t put their tooth back together.
If you can’t put your tooth back together with your spit, it’s time to see an emergency dentist.
What to Do with a Broken Tooth?
The most common treatment for a broken tooth is to have it repaired by a dentist. If you’re in pain and don’t want to wait until normal office hours, call around and find an urgent dental clinic.
A dentist can evaluate the tooth and locate the piece that is causing the pain. They can remove the fragment and repair the tooth.
Conclusion
A broken tooth can cause serious damage to your mouth if you don’t treat it right away. If you notice excessive pain and bleeding, especially if you can’t see the piece of tooth, contact an emergency dentist right away.
Make sure your teeth are taken care of with 24-hour dental care. At Smart Dental Care, we will address any of your most pressing dental concerns at any time. Consult with us today!