A cracked tooth can cause real problems with your teeth. If you have a cavity, or you break or chip a tooth, chances are good that you will notice the damage right away, particularly if the damage was caused by a trauma to your mouth. There may be pieces of tooth and you may feel significant discomfort.
But a cracked tooth can be a different story altogether. You can crack a tooth, and not even know it. For that matter, your dentist may not recognize it, since cracks in your teeth can be so small and fine that they might not even show up on a dental X-ray. But no matter how small a crack can be, there is still enough space for bacteria to penetrate you tooth enamel, and cause a cavity, or infect the tooth pulp. When that happens, you may need to have a root canal or even have the tooth extracted.
To avoid this situation, you should know the indicator of a cracked tooth. That indicator is discomfort. It may be a dull discomfort, or very sharp, but it won’t last long and you may feel it when you bite down, chew or eat or drink something hot, cold or sweet. When you feel the sensation, make a note of when it occurred and what you were doing when it happened. That way, when you come to see our dentists, Drs. Askowitz and Paralta, they will have a place to start looking. Depending on your situation, our dentists may be able to fix your tooth with a filling. If an infection has set in, you may need to have a root canal.
Discomfort in your tooth is an indication that something is wrong. Whenever you feel it in your tooth or your mouth, you should make an appointment at Oneco Dental Care to see our dentists. If you are struggling with tooth pain and you live in the Sarasota, Florida area, you can call 941-751-4900 to plan your visit.
