Why Did a Piece of My Tooth Break Off?
A cracked or fractured tooth can happen due to your age, if you grind your teeth, trauma, and other factors. You may not have any identifiable symptoms of a fractured tooth. Or you might have some pain, sensitivity, and even swelling. Your dentist can treat the broken tooth with several methods, depending on the crack’s location and severity.
A fractured tooth, or cracked tooth, is when a crack appears in a tooth. The crack can sometimes be quite small and harmless. Other times, it can cause your tooth to break off.
Tooth fractures are the most common in smaller children and older people, although anyone can crack a tooth. If you think you might have a broken tooth, see your dentist soon.
What Parts of a Tooth can Crack?
A tooth consists of two basic parts:
* The crown which is visible above your gums.
* The root or roots which lie below your gums.
Both the crown and the root system consist of several layers:
* Enamel: The hard white outer surface.
* Dentin: The middle layer of the tooth.
* Pulp: The soft inner tissue that contains blood vessels and nerves.
A fractured or broken tooth can affect some or all these layers. The proper treatment for a broken or cracked tooth depends on where the fracture is located on the tooth and the actual severity of the fracture.
A broken tooth can hurt or feel sensitive, even though some fractures cause no symptoms. Seeing your dentist and getting treatment sooner increases your chances of repairing a cracked tooth.
Common Causes for a Fractured, Cracked, or Broken Tooth
The most common causes of tooth fractures are:
* Your age, with many tooth cracks happening at age 50 and older.
* Biting on hard foods, such as candy, ice, or popcorn.
* Unhealthy habits, such as ice chewing.
* A large dental filling or a root canal, which will weaken the tooth.
* Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism).
* Trauma, including a fall, a sports injury, a bike accident, or car accident.
Breaks, cracks, and fractures occur most often on your upper front teeth and your lower molars. Though people most often fracture one tooth, more severe injury or trauma can damage multiple teeth. If you have dental cavities, you will have a higher risk of fractures.
The Most Common Symptoms of a Cracked, Fractured, or Broken Tooth
A cracked tooth does not always cause symptoms. When they do, the main symptoms include:
* Pain or discomfort, especially when chewing.
* An increased sensitivity to temperature changes.
* Swelling around the tooth.
* A throbbing toothache when biting.
When A Damaged Tooth Escalates
Sometimes a cracked tooth will lead to an infection, or a tooth abscess. Schedule a visit to your dentist if you notice symptoms including:
* Bad breath (halitosis).
* Constant tooth pain.
* A fever.
* Swollen gums.
* Swollen lymph nodes.
* Tooth sensitivity to temperature changes.
The Broken Tooth Restoration Procedure
Repairing your broken tooth can take one visit or weeks depending on the proper treatment needed. Your dentist will propose your solution and give you a better idea of the duration. For example:
* Dental bonding: Completed in one hour.
* A dental crown: Your dentist can properly fit a dental crown in two appointments.
* An extraction: The extraction is immediate but replacing the tooth with a bridge or dental implant can take months.
* Veneers: It usually takes three to four weeks to create custom veneers.