When Biting Hurts: Signs You Might Have a Cracked Tooth?

Have you ever had discomfort when biting down on a cracked tooth? If so, you are aware of how incredibly annoying it is. Additionally, that is concerning to your general dental health. But you know what’s even more worrisome? Are you unaware of what caused it? You won’t know how to cure your cracked teeth if you don’t even find out you had one. 

Sometimes small cracks on your teeth do not produce extreme pain as we have imagined for a broken tooth. But you can feel pain while chewing or biting down. Neglecting the pain as sensitivity can cause immense damage and lead to complete tooth loss. It’s a risky circumstance that could result in numerous more issues. An emergency dentist in Chandler can offer professional dental care that can help with that. You need to detect various signs, even if you really have a crack in your tooth. Now, let’s find out how to identify those symptoms of a cracked tooth. 

What Are the Common Signs of a Cracked Tooth?

Here are the basic signs you should look for: 

A Toothache That Comes and Goes

Frequent pain without an explanation is a common indication of a broken tooth. For a while, you could notice it, but then it goes away, and you forget about it. Then it reappears, leaving you to question whether the tooth is having issues. A broken tooth causes inconsistent pain because the crack may expose a nerve inside the tooth. However, the pain usually goes away unless there is an infection or aggravating factor. 

Pain When Chewing

Until you bite into anything complicated or chew something slightly complicated, a cracked tooth might not hurt at all. Then, all of a sudden, you will feel it. It’s possible that you have a cracked tooth in that area of your mouth if you have discomfort there when you chew. Finding the source can be made easier by focusing on a specific area of the mouth, even though it is not always clear which tooth it is. 

Extreme Sensitivity

Sometimes sensitivity, not pain, is the result of a broken tooth. It’s possible that your tooth has an invisible crack if it twitches when exposed to cold, heat, or sugar. The break reveals the internal nerves that the tooth’s enamel would normally shield, resulting in sensitivity. 

Swollen Gums

An infection could result from a damaged tooth. The gum tissue surrounding the tooth may swell and become sensitive to the touch. If the bacteria penetrate the tooth through the fracture and infect the dental pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth is affected. You might even get one or more gum lumps or abscesses. 

Unexplained Pain

If you experience difficult-to-identify or pinpoint pain in your teeth or gums, it is likely a broken tooth. More frequently than not, the pain is distributed over one or both sides of the mouth rather than being limited to a single tooth. You can feel as though the pain has no specific cause or that you are unsure of its origin.

What Are the Treatment Options? 

Here are the ways an emergency dentist can help fix the cracked teeth: 

Root Canal Therapy

For significant fractures extending into the tooth’s inner pulp, a surgical procedure may be necessary. Your dental professional will perform root canal therapy to extract the damaged pulp tissue and strengthen the tooth to prevent further deterioration.

Crowns

They offer a lifelong solution for a broken tooth. This procedure involves your dentist Chandler placing a custom-made porcelain or ceramic cap over the damaged tooth. The timeframe varies—it could be completed in a single day or require several weeks for proper fitting, depending on the crown type and necessary repairs.

Removal When Necessary

In cases where extensive damage affects most of the tooth structure, including roots and nerves beyond repair, your dentist may recommend tooth extraction as the appropriate course of action.

Prevent Additional Damage to Your Teeth

When you bite down on a cracked tooth, do not waste a second longer and try to get immediate care. Our patients receive attentive care and individualized services from Shumway Dental Care Chandler in case of a dental crisis. You are welcome to visit us if you have ever faced any oral problem that requires urgent professional care. Our dentist in Chandler offers emergency dental care and provides expert advice on how to deal with the situation. To safeguard your teeth and relieve your dental discomfort, schedule a consultation with us.