HOW DO I KNOW MY TOOTH IS FRACTURED?

My dentist thinks my tooth is fractured, can you show me where? Can you see it on my X-ray or this CAT scan I have?

No, not all fractures can be seen by the human eye, nor on an X-ray or a CAT scan. Fractures are often diagnosed by eliminating all other causes of pain or symptoms.

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My dentist has ruled out all other causes of my symptoms. He thinks it must be fractured. What do you think? Should I have it extracted?

If your dentist and/or endodontist suspects a fracture and you still have symptoms, it is often assumed the tooth has a microscopic fracture. These cannot always be seen but can still cause persistent problems. In those cases, removal is often the only predictable solution. The only thing we can do for you here in this office is remove the tooth; we do not save teeth. If you want to know if there is a way to save the tooth, we recommend you ask your dentist or Endodontist.

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My dentist and/or endodontist think the tooth is fractured and recommends extraction. I want a second opinion.

If you want to know whether the tooth can be saved, you need to see another dentist or endodontist. Oral surgeons remove teeth, but do not treat or repair them, so they cannot offer alternatives for saving a tooth.

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If no one can show me the fracture, how do you know it’s there?

Fractures can be too small to see, they’re microscopic, and may not appear in any imaging. Diagnosis of a fractured tooth is often made by ruling out other potential sources of pain or symptoms like cavities or gum disease.

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My tooth doesn’t hurt now. Can I just wait?

A lack of symptoms does not mean the problem is gone. Pain from a fractured tooth can disappear temporarily and return unpredictably. Even teeth that have root canals can still develop pain or infection if fractured.

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Can you just give me antibiotics so I can delay treatment? I have a trip coming up and would like to wait until after.

No, antibiotics do not fix fractured teeth and they do not stop the pain or prevent infection even if you’ve had a root canal. If extraction is planned, it’s best not to delay, especially before traveling so you don’t risk having symptoms or infection developing.