Broken Tooth and Infection
Depending on how severely your tooth is broken, you might have no symptoms at all, or you might be in considerable pain – or maybe you’re somewhere in between. Regardless of your level of discomfort, it’s important to address a broken tooth as soon as possible; of course, if you’re in pain, seek prompt medical attention! Even mild cracks in teeth can lead to bigger problems down the road, though, so make sure to see your dentist regularly for diagnosis and treatment of minor cracks before they get worse. Not only do many broken teeth hurt or at least cause discomfort, a cracked or broken tooth is more susceptible to infection than one that is structurally whole. Repairing a broken tooth, or extracting an irreparably broken tooth, can prevent infection and help keep the mouth and the rest of the body healthy.
The calcified layers of cementum, dentin, and enamel that create and maintain the structure of a tooth surround a central core of dental pulp. Dental pulp is living tissue, rich with blood vessels and nerve endings, and it keeps the teeth alive while their durable outer layers protect it. If the outer layer of enamel cracks, the pulp may not be immediately threatened, but the likelihood of the enamel continuing to crack increases. If a crack affects the layers below the enamel, bacteria can easily enter the pulp tissue at the center of a tooth, where they get trapped and colonize, causing infection to proliferate. If infection in the dental pulp remains untreated, it can spread into the head and the neck, and it can even enter the bloodstream and lead to life-threatening conditions like sepsis. While rare, this threat is easily eliminated with a root canal treatment and dental restoration, and it can be prevented by sealing and repairing cracked or broken teeth before infection is allowed to set in. Once the integrity of the structure of a tooth is restored, the pulp is protected once again and the threat of infection diminishes.
If your tooth is broken and it hurts, or if the tooth is very sensitive to cold or heat or changes color, it’s possible that the pulp inside the tooth has been damaged. Only a dentist can diagnose problems with dental roots, including infection, and begin working toward eliminating or repairing those problems and preventing infection from worsening or spreading. If your dental pulp is infected, your dentist will perform a root canal, removing infected tissue and then sealing the disinfected tooth to protect it. Minor cracks and fractures in the teeth might be fixed with dental bonding, fillings, or veneers, while larger cracks or breaks may need to be repaired with dental crowns. If the tooth is significantly damaged, it may require extraction and replacement with a dental bridge or dental implant. Whatever the case, the primary goal of repairing a broken tooth is to prevent additional damage to the oral cavity, including infection. When possible, this is achieved by restoring the affected tooth’s integrity to protect its vitality and help to keep it healthy and whole.