Anyone can experience a broken tooth from an accident or trauma, but a tooth can also break due to tooth decay or even grinding your teeth. There are varying degrees of a fractured tooth, some of which do not cause any pain or other symptoms, and those that cause extreme pain and tooth loss. The method that your dentist chooses to restore a broken tooth will depend on the severity of the crack in the location of the tooth.
Why did a piece of my tooth break off?
A broken tooth can happen to anyone regardless of age, but as you get older, teeth naturally wear down, and the enamel weakens, increasing the chance of fracture. Additionally, biting down on hard foods like hard candies, popcorn, kernels, and even chewing ice can cause your teeth to crack. This is especially true with old dental work, which can be susceptible to fracture if it has become compromised over time.
Patients who grind their teeth are also highly susceptible to fractured teeth. Bruxism is the unconscious act of clenching or grinding your teeth, which a lot of patients do in their sleep. This puts a lot of force on the teeth and can cause a fracture.
Finally, trauma to the face or mouth can cause a tooth to break. If you are hit in the mouth during physical sports, a vehicle accident, or if you fall, a broken tooth can result and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
How is a broken tooth fixed?
Once your doctor identifies the severity of your broken tooth, they will discuss treatment options with you. For minor breaks or cracks that do not affect the function of your tooth, your dentist may be able to smooth out any rough edges, contouring the tooth. Dental bonding is another way to repair minor cracks or breaks in teeth. This is the same type of composite material that is used in dental fillings when you have a cavity. The bonding can be built up to replace a broken piece of tooth or can be used to fill a crack.
Larger breaks may require a dental crown or veneer to be placed over the tooth to ensure the integrity of the tooth and surrounding teeth learn to prevent further damage. These types of restorations fit over the entire tooth structure and can hold a cracked tooth together for 10 to 15 years. If you develop an infection, you may require a root canal to clear the infection out of the tooth before a crown or veneer is placed.
If a tooth breaks in such a way that it is unable to be repaired, the tooth may need to be extracted. This is a last resort because your dentist wants you to keep your natural teeth as long as possible, but sometimes, in order to keep the rest of your mouth healthy, a severely damaged or broken tooth will need to come out.
If you break or crack a tooth, it is important to see your dentist as soon as possible. Teeth cannot repair themselves, so without intervention, the damage will only get worse.