Chipped and Broken Teeth

Teeth are remarkably strong but they can chip, crack, fracture or break which can happen in several ways:

• Biting down on something very hard
• Trauma - being hit in the face or mouth
• Falling, tripping over
• Already having cavities that can weaken the tooth

When a tooth chips or breaks, it may not hurt or cause any obvious pain, you may not even be aware of the damage straight away. Minor tooth fractures usually don't cause any pain, but if a large piece of the tooth breaks off, it can hurt. This is because the nerve inside the tooth could become damaged and if it is exposed to air, saliva, or hot or cold foods or drinks, it can be extremely uncomfortable and painful. Pain from a broken or cracked tooth may be constant or intermittent. Many people feel the pain when they bite or chew because this puts pressure on the tooth.

Cracked (Fractured) Teeth

You can’t treat a cracked tooth at home, you will need to come in and see us. Sometimes a tooth hurts only when you eat or when the temperature in your mouth changes (because you drank something hot or cold, for example.) If your tooth pain is constant, it may have a damaged nerve which can be a serious warning sign which shouldn’t be ignored.

Broken Teeth

If you have broken a tooth, come in and see us as possible where we can determine the extent of the damage. A tooth with a damaged nerve may require root canal treatment.

There are several types of tooth fractures and breaks, each of which requires different treatments. These include:

• Minor cracks: Also called ‘craze lines’; these are surface cracks that affect only the outer white surface of the tooth, called the enamel. Minor cracks rarely need treatment. However, your dentist may lightly polish the area to smooth out any rough spots.
• Cracked tooth: This type of fracture involves the whole tooth, from the chewing surface all the way down to the nerve. The pieces remain in place, but the crack gradually spreads. Cracks can sometimes be repaired with filling material. The tooth often will need a crown to prevent the crack from getting worse. If the pulp (nerve and other live tissues) is damaged, you may need a root canal as well.
• Chips Minor chips don't always need treatment. We may suggest repairing the damage with filling material to prevent it from getting worse or to make the tooth look better. If the chip is very small, we may polish and smooth out the chipped area.
• Broken cusp These breaks affect the pointed chewing surfaces (the cusps) of the teeth. They usually do not affect the pulp and are unlikely to cause much pain. We may repair the damage, however, if it interferes with chewing. Sometimes we can use a file to restore the tooth's shape. Frequently, however, an onlay or crown will be required.
• Serious breaks These breaks go deep enough to expose the nerve of the tooth. They almost always cause the tooth to hurt and be sensitive. Usually, the broken part of the tooth will bleed. You will need root canal treatment to remove the exposed nerve and probably a crown to restore the tooth to normal function so you can eat and chew properly.
• Split tooth This means that the tooth has split vertically into two separate parts. Some teeth, such as your back teeth (molars), have more than one root. It may be possible to keep one of the roots, which will then be covered with a crown but first, you will need root canal treatment. Secondly, we will remove any roots that cannot be kept and finally, you will need a crown to cover the root and replace the tooth. In some cases, when a root cannot be saved, the tooth will have to be removed.
• Vertical breaks or split root These cracks start in the root of the tooth and extend upward toward the chewing surface. These breaks are often painful because the area around the root may be inflamed or infected. In most cases, the tooth will have to be removed.
• Decay-induced break In this case, the tooth has broken or crumbled because a cavity weakened it from the inside out. We will evaluate the cavity and recommend the best way to restore the tooth. In some cases, the tooth may have to be removed.