What happens if you leave a broken tooth?
If you’ve got a broken or cracked tooth, you might think it’s not a big deal, especially compared with other oral conditions like periodontal disease or tooth loss. This isn’t the case, however. Even if your broken tooth isn’t causing pain or discomfort, leaving a broken tooth untreated allows the condition to worsen as time progresses, increasing the risk of infection and ultimately requiring more involved and extensive treatment. No matter how a tooth breaks, dental attention is necessary. The teeth are designed to be very durable and are made of the hardest tissues in the human body, but they can still be damaged by external forces and pressures. Some of these forces can include chronic grinding and clenching of the teeth, a condition known as bruxism; habitually biting or chewing hard foods or objects like ice; falls, impacts, and accidents; and using the teeth to open bottles or packages or otherwise treating the teeth like tools. Teeth with untreated cavities and teeth with large fillings are more prone to fracture, as the structure of the affected tooth or teeth is compromised and the teeth themselves are weaker. Additionally, teeth that are broken are more likely to continue to break, and this could lead to infection down the road if the damage extends beyond the enamel and into the deeper layers of the tooth.
When a broken or cracked tooth is left untreated, the pulp and tissues inside the tooth are more prone to infection, and this infection can spread into the gums and bone and even enter the bloodstream. An untreated broken tooth is also more likely to fail and require extraction. It’s impossible to fix a cracked tooth without dental attention, though some of the symptoms of a broken tooth can be managed while patients wait to see the dentist. Your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth and your oral cavity, taking dental x-rays to determine the extent and specific details of the fracture. If the dentist determines that there’s damage to the inside of the tooth, a root canal may be the best treatment option. If the damage is significant, it might be impossible to save the tooth, and the only treatment option is extraction. Regardless of the immediate treatment for a broken tooth, restoration options are available, whether this means repairing the tooth with a composite bonding procedure, protecting and restoring the tooth with a dental crown, or replacing the tooth with a dental bridge or dental implant. These treatment options are designed to restore both the function and appearance of the teeth.
In the absence of professional dental treatment, a broken tooth is prone to infection, and this infection will worsen over time if not addressed. Infection in a broken tooth can spread into the jaw and gums, and, though rare, the infection can also pass into the bloodstream and cause life-threatening complications. The pain of a broken tooth can usually be managed while you wait to see a dentist, but don’t delay and leave your broken tooth alone; prompt treatment could mean saving the tooth and could even help prevent significant complications down the road.