The enamel layer on each of your teeth is made from microscopic mineral crystal structures that give your teeth the hardness they need for biting, chewing, and grinding food. However, there are still things like an accidental hard fall, a blow to the face, or a sports-related injury that can have enough concentrated force to crack one or more of your teeth. This is even more likely if you participate in contact sports without the protection of a quality mouth guard.
At first the trauma of the accident might be shocking and cause short-term pain. If the initial pain subsides after a few minutes, it could mean the crack is shallow and limited to the enamel layer of the tooth.
Unfortunately, even a shallow crack could pose serious tooth decay complications further down the road. Regardless of the absence of pain, you should still have the tooth looked at by John S. Grisham, DDS to best explore your treatment options. Sometimes the cracked tooth can be repaired with a filling.
If the pain does not subside after the initial trauma has passed or you experience extreme sensitivity in the tooth, it likely means that the crack extends deep into the sensitive interior structures of the tooth. In a situation like this we might need to perform a root canal. In some extreme situations, the tooth might need to be extracted before John S. Grisham, DDS can restore it by other means.
If you have a cracked tooth you need to call John S. Grisham, DDS at 603-444-2100 right away to schedule an appointment.