Crack & Chipped Teeth
If your teeth have fractured, cracked or chipped in your mouth, we consider this broken teeth.
In some instances, simply grinding (Bruxism) or biting down on something hard can break a tooth. In other cases, dental decay can be an underlying issue that progressively damages the natural tooth structure or existing dental fillings, causing it to fall out or break away.
Teeth fracture can range from a small chip to a wall of a tooth giving way. This can also be more likely to occur in teeth that already have large fillings and are unstable. When it does happen the underlying tooth structure (dentine) and sometimes even the nerve of the tooth can be exposed, causing the experience of dental pain.
A crack that appears on the surface of a tooth may be an early warning sign, that if detected and managed appropriately, may prevent a major tooth fracture event from occuring. Cracked or broken teeth can be treated with a protective filling or crown to increase the longevity of the weak tooth.
Every broken tooth scenario may be different, therefore having the Dentist assess its severity is important. If its minor, repair can be undertaken with dental fillings. However, if it’s severe, a protective crown would help to reinforce and strengthen the broken tooth.
Sensitivity to hot/cold resulting in eating discomfort, this can be coupled with pain from chewing or pressure on the tooth. Irritation and/or ulceration to the tongue can also result. If a broken tooth is left untreated for a prolonged period of time, the tooth’s pulp (nerve) can also be adversely affected.
