How do I know if I chipped a molar?
What are the symptoms?
- pain when eating, particularly when chewing or biting.
- swollen gums around the cracked tooth.
- teeth that have suddenly become sensitive to sweetness.
- teeth that have suddenly become sensitive to hot or cold foods.
- pain that tends to come and go.
What happens if my molar is chipped?
A chipped tooth can cause tooth decay, which will end up causing tooth sensitivity. Also, a piece of protective enamel will be missing, exposing the inner tooth nerves and making the tooth sensitive to pressure, and hot, cold, sweet, and acidic food and drinks.
Is a chipped molar bad?
A seriously chipped tooth will expose the important inner structures of the tooth. This makes the tooth more prone to infections and cavities. Continuing on without treatment could lead to further nerve damage, and an abscess may form.
Can you leave a chipped molar?
Leaving a Chipped Tooth Untreated While rare, it is possible for a chipped tooth to prove life-threatening. Do not let this happen to you. Meet with a dentist after chipping your tooth to help reduce the pain, ensuring the chip does not lead to additional problems.
How serious is a cracked molar?
Risks of an Untreated Cracked Molar A small fracture may not need a significant treatment initially, but it can lead to extensive and costly dental care if left untreated. A larger cracked molar can lead to pain, infection, and tooth extraction.
Is a chipped tooth an emergency?
Usually, a chipped tooth isn’t an emergency and can be corrected with dental bonding. This means that your dentist will apply a strong, tooth-colored material to it to restore the tooth’s shape. However, it’s possible that the dental bonding will wear away over time and needs to be replaced.
What do you do for a cracked molar?
Treatment will be based on the severity of the crack. Your dentist may recommend a crown, root canal, or tooth extraction. If your dentist thinks a crown is best, a filling material can repair the crack. If the inside of your tooth is damaged, your dentist may suggest a root canal to remove the damaged tissue.
What to do if you have a small chip in your tooth?
Dental Filling or Bonding If you have chipped off just a small piece of tooth enamel, your dentist may repair the damage with a filling. If the repair is to a front tooth or can be seen when you smile, your dentist will likely use a procedure called bonding, which uses a tooth-colored composite resin.
What do dentists do for cracked molar?
Is a cracked molar an emergency?
Please get emergency care immediately! A tooth with a large chip, crack, or break at or near the gum line, may not bleed or swell, but be very painful. The biggest risks associated with large or deep cracks/chips is damage to the nerve and blood supply and infection.
How urgent is a chipped molar?
Can a slightly chipped tooth grow back?
When a patient has a chipped tooth, it means that a small portion of their tooth is no longer there. Chipped teeth are one of the more common types of dental problems that general dentists deal with. However, chipped teeth do not grow back on any portion of a tooth and instead need to be repaired by a general dentist.
What to do if you have a cracked molar?
Treatment for a Cracked Molar. When a crack cuts through more than the enamel, then treatment is needed to prevent problems like an infection or a deeper fracture. Depending on how severe a crack is, your dentist may recommend a crown, a root canal, or removal of the tooth.
How do you fix a broken molar?
Common treatment methods that may be used to treat a cracked molar include: Fillings. Some molars can be saved by using fillings. Root Canal Therapy. This is going to desensitize the tooth from temperature extremes, but a patient may still feel pressure.
Is that chipped tooth worth repairing?
It’s a good idea to have a dentist fix a chipped tooth. A tiny chip may seem like a minor problem, but any break in the enamel can let harmful bacteria in, resulting in tooth decay. A chip can also weaken a tooth, making it more susceptible to further chips, cracks, and breaks.
What happens if I leave a broken tooth untreated?
Pressure sensitivity