Why Your Cracked Tooth Needs Help Now
Having a tooth become cracked can be a real nuisance, but that's not all it is. If you don't seek out treatment soon for your cracked tooth, you could be in for a whole world of trouble in the near future that could mean a big dental bill and a lot of discomfort. Here's what you'll be avoiding by seeking out help from an emergency dentist as soon as your tooth is cracked.
Bacteria
When a tooth cracks, it often exposes the deeper surfaces of the tooth. You see, the tooth isn't just one layer; it contains different layers, like the enamel, dentin, and pulp. The enamel is the hardest layer that protects the rest of the tooth from invaders, like bacteria. But when a tooth cracks, it often creates a hole in the tooth that goes down deep into the tooth, allowing bacteria to slip in and cause damage to these softer tissues. When this happens, it can cause a cavity, or worse yet, damage the interior of the tooth so badly that a root canal becomes necessary.
Pain
For most people, cracked teeth aren't pleasant to deal with. Pain relievers can be helpful but rarely control the pain entirely. Unfortunately, it's also likely to be made worse if you do things like eat or drink while you still have the cracked tooth. Needless to say, if you want help, it's best to get to a dentist ASAP instead of putting up with the pain.
Risk of Further Damage
There's a reason that most cracked teeth need dental crowns as treatment. That's because once a tooth has cracked, it loses its structural integrity. The break or crack in the tooth can lead to further breaks and cracks, resulting in the destruction of the tooth. This kind of damage can come from normal, everyday use, like simply chewing or grinding your teeth.
Once again, if the exterior shell of the tooth is severely damaged or destroyed, the interior structures end up on the surface. When they're exposed, it can be extremely painful and you greatly increase your risk for developing a severe cavity or potentially losing the tooth entirely. Treatment and dental crowns prevent this from happening by sealing off the tooth from the outside world and protecting it with a hard external shell.
There's no reason to be ashamed in seeking help early on for a cracked tooth. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to develop complications, so seek out help right away.