Half My Tooth Broke Off
Anyone can suffer a broken tooth though they are more common in children and older adults. A fractured tooth can result from eating hard foods, large dental fillings with recurrent decay, age, bruxism, or trauma. You might not have any symptoms of a fractured tooth or you may experience pain, sensitivity and swelling. Your dentist has several methods to treat a fracture, depending on the location and severity of the fracture.
A fractured tooth, often called cracked tooth syndrome (CTS), is when a literal crack occurs in your tooth. A tooth fracture can be small and harmless but more severe cracks can cause your tooth to break or split in two.
Symptoms of Cracked Tooth Syndrome
Cracked tooth symptoms may include:
- Intermittent pain, especially when chewing
- Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures or sugary foods
- Swelling in the gum tissue around the tooth
Types of Tooth Fracture
- Craze lines (hairline cracks): Small, thin cracks on the outer enamel of your tooth that do not cause any pain and are harmless and very common.
- Cracked tooth: A vertical crack that runs from the biting/chewing surface of your tooth to your gum line, sometimes even extending into your gum line and root.
- Fractured cusp: A crack that forms around a dental filling. This type of fracture is not typically very painful.
- Vertical root fracture: This is a crack that starts below your gum line and travels toward the biting surface. Vertical root fractures may not cause symptoms unless your tooth becomes infected.
- Split tooth: A crack extends from your tooth’s surface to below your gum line. This fracture splits your tooth into two parts.
What is the treatment for a fractured tooth?
Treatment for a fractured tooth will depend on how severe the fracture is. Common cracked tooth treatments include:
- Contouring: For minor chips and breaks that do not cause symptoms, your dentist can smooth any rough edges and polish the broken tooth.
- Composite bonding: Bonding can be used to repair minor fractures or to restore a fracture after root canal therapy.
- Root canal therapy: When a fracture is severe, it can run all the way to the pulp which can then become infected. A root canal can be used to remove the infected pulp.
- Crown: A porcelain or ceramic is fitted over the entire fractured tooth. Crowns are often used to restore a root canal treated tooth or a tooth with severe decay as well as to save a fractured tooth.
- Extraction: When severe damage occurs and a fractured or decayed tooth is deemed hopeless, removing the tooth may be the only option. Restorative options after extraction include a dental bridge or a dental implant.
Regardless of the severity of a fracture or whether or not you experience symptoms, cracked teeth should always be addressed by your dentist as quickly as possible. Even if it is a minor chip, you still want to go ahead and have it smoothed to prevent further damage to the area.