According to the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 9 out of 10 people get their wisdom teeth removed because these erupt impacted, causing the pain felt behind the second molar. Rarely does wisdom teeth emerge just fine and healthy. Rarer still are cases where they encounter trauma, causing them to break, but these instances do happen. You should not ignore broken wisdom teeth or any molar for that matter. Instead, you should visit a cosmetic dentist in Newport Beach immediately for treatment.
Effects of Broken Wisdom Teeth
Erupting wisdom teeth can be painful enough but if they come out broken, it could mean more dental woes for you. Left untreated, the broken tooth can cause bacteria growth and eventually, tooth decay. The gums around the wisdom tooth can also end up getting infected, slowly spreading to the gum tissue of other teeth nearby. If you notice swelling and throbbing pain in the area, and you start to develop a fever, these are signs of infection. Don’t wait until the situation worsens before consulting a cosmetic dentist in Newport Beach like F. Anthony Rich, DDS for treatment.
Cosmetic Filling
Before a dentist recommends a treatment option, he will first examine the tooth. If the wisdom tooth just has a small crack, it may not be necessary to extract it especially if it will help you chew better. Your dentist might just recommend patching it up with cosmetic filling. The filling material will repair the small crack which should alleviate any pain you are feeling.
Dental Crowns
For more severe breaking, a dentist may recommend fitting the tooth with a crown. First, he will have to take an X-ray to see how serious the damage is. If it reaches the nerve and blood vessel part of your wisdom tooth, you will need to undergo a root canal treatment first before getting a crown. If a part of the tooth has completely broken off, your dentist will have to build up the missing part with filling material so that the crown can be properly applied.
These dental procedures are options that won’t involve extraction. If your dentist decides that the wisdom teeth are not really going to be healthy for you, he will most certainly recommend removing them.
Sources:
Broken Wisdom Tooth Treatment Options, Colgate Oral Care Center
Broken Wisdom Tooth: Adverse Side Effects If Left Untreated, Colgate Oral Care Center