What To Do With A Cracked Tooth
Our goal is for our patients to have optimal oral health and never experience a dental emergency. Unfortunately, as much as we would all love to always have amazing oral health, that is not always reality. One of the most common dental emergencies that we see in the office is a cracked tooth. There are many ways to prevent a cracked tooth, but the best way is to maintain your routine oral hygiene examination and cleaning appointments. During these visits, we will look for any problem areas in the mouth and recommend treatment. If we recommend treatment, be sure to schedule your appointment as soon as possible.
Regularly Inspect Your Mouth
As much as we love to see our patients, most of you only visit our office a few times per year. For the rest of the calendar year, you are responsible for your oral health. It is important to inspect your mouth regularly for signs of a problem. We recommend using your tongue to feel around for any changes in your teeth and gums. You can also visually inspect your gums, teeth, and mouth. Oftentimes, issues, such as a cracked tooth, will be visible to the naked eye. A cracked tooth can occur at any time and can lead to serious oral health complications if not treated in a timely fashion. Besides being visible, other signs of a cracked tooth include:
- Tooth sensitivity
- Swelling of the gums around the damaged tooth
- Pain when eating
- Throbbing discomfort that comes and goes
Time is of the Essence
If you think you have a cracked tooth, it is important to receive treatment immediately. Failure to treat a cracked tooth in a timely fashion can increase the risk of developing a dangerous infection that will eventually lead to a root canal. You also have a greater chance of needing a tooth extraction.
If you think you may have a cracked tooth, contact our office located in Jacksonville Beach, FL as soon as possible. We want to check your mouth and recommend treatment to help prevent further damage.
