Broken tooth
It can happen to anyone. An unfortunate fall, an unexpected impact while playing sports, an unintentional bite on a hard object. Life writes various scenarios. A broken tooth is a significant problem, but not a dental hopelessness. It is important to realize that sometimes a broken tooth can have its functionality restored.
Therefore, when this unpleasant situation happens to us, it is worth paying attention to the broken pieces. It often happens that a dentist can reuse them and, for example, attempt to bond the tooth fragments back together. This is not always possible, but it is always worth a try.
The human body's capacity for self-regeneration is immense. Broken bones heal, cut skin mends, and cut hair or nails grow back. But regardless of how well our body is able to repair itself, tooth enamel unfortunately cannot self-regenerate... and a broken tooth will never fully fuse back together on its own. However, the role of a good dentist is to restore it to its pre-accident condition.
Just as our teeth are diverse, there can be many types of fractures and causes behind them. Some people ask themselves: why do my teeth break so easily? The reason could be poor mineralization of teeth and bones, or genetic predispositions. Frequent tooth breakage can be caused by large fillings, which ultimately weaken the teeth significantly. Bruxism and teeth grinding are other reasons for fractures. Others include consuming hard foods, such as ice and hard candies, using teeth to open bottle caps (Yes! This still happens!) or attempting to bite through very hard objects (teeth are not pliers!).
Treatment for a chipped, broken, or cracked tooth most often includes:
reattaching the tooth fragment
filling or placing a crown (a cap that completely covers the broken tooth)
root canal treatment for a severely broken tooth with exposed nerves
Porcelain or composite veneers may also prove effective in the dental treatment of a broken tooth (depending on the specific, individual case of the fracture), and in cases where the tooth cannot be saved, replacing it with a dental implant.
What to do in the event of an unexpected tooth fracture?
Of course, you should go to a dental clinic as soon as possible. Temporarily, you can use the following methods: if an entire tooth with an intact root falls out, place it in a small container with milk. If one of the front teeth has been broken, it is worth securing its part for a later attempt to glue it back together. In the case of front teeth, the dentist will use a tooth-colored composite resin to repair it. If the tooth remaining in the mouth has a sharp edge, you can try to temporarily protect it, for example, with chewing gum. For minor fractures, the tooth may only require a filling for a small repair. Of course, in the case of severe pain, you should always take an effective painkiller.
How to minimize the risk of tooth cracks and fractures?
Their proper mineralization is important. For this purpose, universally known principles of proper oral hygiene should be applied:
Frequent tooth brushing
Giving up products containing sugar
Consuming more calcium and vitamins
Using fluoride toothpaste
What happens if a broken tooth is left untreated? An untreated broken tooth can collect bacteria, which consequently risks infection or an abscess. A broken tooth also risks nerve damage and can lead to the need for root canal treatment. If we do not have to delay our visit to the dentist – let us report this problem to our dentist as soon as possible.
