Why did a piece of my tooth break off?
There are a number of factors that can lead to a broken tooth! Some such factors include age, bruxism, trauma or accident, or decay. When a piece of a tooth breaks off, the patient often feels pain, temperature sensitivity, and may even experience a little swelling in the gum tissue surrounding the affected tooth.
Causes of a Fractured Tooth
Anybody can crack a tooth though it is most common in children and older adults. A fractured tooth is when a crack appears on the surface of your tooth which can sometimes be small, if it is larger, it can cause your tooth to split. Anytime you see a crack in a tooth you should see your dentist as soon as possible.
Common causes of a fractured tooth include:
- Bad habits such as biting on hard foods like popcorn kernels
- Bruxism
- Accident or trauma
- Root canal or large dental fillings
- Age
Diagnosing a Fractured Tooth
When you visit your dentist with what you believe to be a broken tooth, they will evaluate the tooth and ask about your symptoms and what may have caused trauma to the area. As they examine the tooth, they will likely take an x-ray to see if any fractures are visible or if any underlying bone loss could be causing problems for you. Vertical fractures can irritate the gum tissue so they will make note of your gum health and look for fracture lines. They may ask you to bite down on a stick or instrument to see if that causes a reaction. There is also a dye that they can use to stain the tooth that will help highlight any fracture.
Treating a Fractured Tooth
There are a number of treatments available to restore a fractured tooth and your dentist will use the best treatment option for you, depending on the severity of the fracture. Common treatments for a fractured tooth include:
- Contouring: Your dentist can smooth any rough edges if your fracture is minor and not causing any problems.
- Bonding: Just like a dental filling, bonding the portion of the tooth that fractured or even using bonding to rebuild a missing piece can restore the tooth nicely.
- Root canal therapy: When a broken tooth is severe, it may be possible to save the tooth by removing the damaged pulp inside the tooth to get you out of pain before placing a restoration.
- Crown: A porcelain or ceramic crown can be placed over the tooth and is commonly used after a root canal. This keeps a fractured tooth together and prevents further damage.
- Extraction: A tooth can be damaged beyond repair at which point your dentist will likely recommend that the tooth come out altogether. If your tooth is hopeless, there are replacement options like a dental bridge or implant.
If you believe you have cracked a tooth or if it feels like a piece of a tooth is missing, you should visit your dentist even if you do not have any symptoms. Without evaluation and possible treatment, a fractured or broken tooth can get worse and may lead to the tooth being hopeless when a simple fix could have saved the tooth if addressed promptly!