Is It OK to Leave a Broken Tooth? The Facts You Need

Is it OK to leave a broken tooth? No. Leaving a broken tooth untreated can lead to serious dental and health problems. Even if there’s no pain, bacteria can enter the crack, causing infection, abscesses, or even tooth loss. Early dental care is the only way to prevent complications and protect your smile.

What Really Happens If You Leave a Broken Tooth?

• Infection Risk: Bacteria can enter the broken area, leading to infection or abscess. This can spread to other teeth or even the bloodstream.
  
  
• Pain and Sensitivity: The exposed nerves may cause pain or sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods.
  
  
• Tooth Loss: Untreated breaks can worsen, sometimes leading to extraction. The American Dental Association reports millions of teeth are lost yearly due to injury and delayed care.
  
  
• Damage to Other Teeth: A broken tooth can shift, affecting your bite and neighboring teeth.

At Alpine Dental, we often see patients who waited too long. One patient arrived with a minor crack that became infected within weeks, requiring a root canal and crown. Prompt treatment could have saved time and discomfort.

Is it OK to leave a broken tooth? Absolutely not. Protect your health and smile—call Alpine Dental today for a same-day evaluation. Don’t let a small problem become a big one.

Sources:

1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21628-fractured-tooth-cracked-tooth
2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chipped-broken-or-cracked-tooth/
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8630975/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33103524/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551650/
6. https://www.aae.org/specialty/cracked-teeth-to-treat-or-not-to-treat/