A broken tooth - Donna Yock Dentist

tooth crack

A cracked tooth: what is it?

A tooth that has shattered is called a cracked tooth.

Do teeth all break in the same manner?The tooth is weakened by large fillings.

No, teeth can break in a number of ways.

tooth crack

This occurs when a fracture extends from the tooth’s biting surface all the way down to the root. It occasionally enters the root below the gum line. Instead of splitting into two pieces, a fractured tooth typically has damage to its soft, inner tissue.

Crazy lines

These are very little fissures that only impact the tooth’s outer layer of enamel. All adult teeth have them, and they are painless. There is no need to cure craze lines.

Broken cusp

The tooth’s cusp is the pointy portion of the biting surface. A damaged cusp might cause the tooth to shatter. When you bite that tooth, you will often experience a sharp ache.

Tooth split

This frequently happens when a fractured tooth goes untreated. Two pieces of the tooth separate. Cracks that originate in the root and extend upward toward the biting surface are known as vertical root fractures.

What causes teeth to break?

Tooth cracking can result from a variety of factors, including:

Too much grinding can put a great deal of strain on the teeth.
The tooth is weakened by large fillings.
biting or chewing on a hard object, such as meat bones, ice, boiled candy, or fruit stones.
an injury to the lower jaw or chin.
gum disease, in the event that bone loss has occurred. This may increase the likelihood of root fractures in the teeth.
Abrupt variations in oral temperature.

Which Factors Can Lead to a Broken Tooth?

There are several reasons why a tooth might break. Among these are the following reasons:

Snacking on hard things such as nuts, hard candies, and ice
Stress that causes grinding or clenching of the jaw
Uneven chewing
dental structure loss as a result of wear or big fillings
The act of eating hot food and then quickly washing it down with a glass of ice-cold water is an example of exposure to temperature extremes.
Teeth brittleness after a root canal

Which Symptoms Could Indicate a Broken Tooth?

Regretfully, it might be challenging to spot a fractured tooth on your own. There is frequently a vertical hairline fracture that is almost imperceptible to the naked eye. These microscopic fissures are occasionally invisible on X-rays. However, you should be aware of these five warning symptoms of a broken tooth:

ache in the teeth when eating or biting. Even if you don’t feel the discomfort every time you eat, this might be a good sign of a broken tooth. It could only happen if you bite down in a specific manner or consume particular items.
absence of ongoing discomfort. A broken tooth hurts occasionally, unlike a cavity or an infection. You probably have a tooth fracture if you do not experience persistent discomfort.
heightened awareness. When you bite into hot food or drink cold drinks, you can discover that you feel pain. It’s possible that consuming foods that are sticky, sugary, or sour will also make you sensitive. A broken tooth might be indicated by increased sensitivity.
infection. An infection in the gum line surrounding the fracture site can occasionally result from a shattered tooth. A little lump on the gums next to the tooth would be the appearance of this illness.
No obvious indications. You may usually see degradation when there is a cavity. For example, you could see a hole where the enamel has worn down or a dark patch on the tooth’s surface. Another clue that you may have a broken tooth is if you are having dental discomfort but are unable to notice any evident symptoms.

How Do You Treat a Broken Tooth?

The location and degree of a broken tooth determine how it should be treated. Small cracks are frequent and usually don’t even need to be treated. However, a restorative technique, potentially a crown, may be necessary for cracks that compromise a tooth’s cusp.

A root canal is necessary for about 20% of broken teeth, and in extreme circumstances, the tooth may need to be removed completely. In that instance, a bridge or an implant may be used to replace the lost tooth.