A broken tooth can happen unexpectedly. You may bite down on something hard, experience an injury, or simply notice that part of a tooth has broken off while eating. Sometimes a broken tooth causes immediate pain, while other times there may be little or no discomfort at all.
Regardless of how it happened, a broken or cracked tooth should be assessed by a dentist. Even when the tooth does not hurt, a fracture can expose the inner layers of the tooth, make it more vulnerable to further damage, or allow bacteria to reach the nerve.
At Collingwood Family Dental, we regularly see patients with cracked, chipped and broken teeth. The appropriate treatment depends on how much of the tooth has been damaged, where the crack or fracture is located, and whether the nerve inside the tooth has been affected.
What Should I Do If I Break a Tooth?
If you have broken a tooth, try to arrange a dental appointment as soon as reasonably possible. Until you can see a dentist:
- Save any piece of the tooth that has broken off and bring it with you.
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to remove any debris.
- If there is bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze.
- If there is swelling, a cold compress on the outside of the face can help.
- Avoid chewing on the affected side.
- Avoid very hot, cold, hard or sticky foods if the tooth is sensitive.
- If the broken edge is sharp and irritating your tongue or cheek, dental wax can temporarily cover the area.
Do not try to glue the broken piece back onto your tooth yourself.
If the tooth is causing significant pain, has been injured in an accident, or has broken close to or below the gumline, prompt dental assessment is particularly important.
Is a Broken Tooth a Dental Emergency?
It depends on the type and severity of the fracture.
A small chip without pain may not require emergency treatment, but it should still be assessed by a dentist. A larger fracture, severe toothache, significant sensitivity, swelling, bleeding, or a tooth that has become loose may require more urgent care.
A broken tooth can sometimes be more serious than it initially appears. A fracture may extend deeper into the tooth and potentially affect the dental pulp, which contains the nerves and blood vessels.
If you have severe dental pain, facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or significant facial trauma, seek urgent medical or dental care.
What Causes a Tooth to Break?
Teeth are remarkably strong, but they can still fracture under certain conditions. Common causes of a broken or cracked tooth include:
Biting on hard foods
Hard foods such as ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels or bones can put substantial force on a tooth. Biting down unexpectedly on a particularly hard object can cause a crack or fracture.
Large fillings
A tooth with a large filling may have less remaining natural tooth structure. Over time, the combination of chewing forces and reduced tooth structure can increase the risk of fracture.
Tooth grinding and clenching
Repeatedly grinding or clenching your teeth can place significant stress on the teeth. Over time, these forces can contribute to cracks and fractures.
Tooth decay
A tooth weakened by decay can be more susceptible to breaking. Sometimes a tooth that appears to have broken suddenly has actually been weakened by decay for some time.
Dental trauma
Falls, sports injuries, car accidents and other impacts to the mouth can fracture or chip teeth. Normal wear over time Teeth experience thousands of chewing cycles every day. Over many years, this can contribute to small cracks and structural weakening. According to the Ontario Dental Association, biting on hard foods or objects, large or faulty fillings, and grinding are among the causes associated with cracked teeth.
What Does a Cracked Tooth Feel Like?
A cracked tooth does not always cause constant pain.
Some people experience:
- Sharp pain when biting down
- Pain when releasing their bite
- Sensitivity to cold or hot foods and drinks
- Pain that comes and goes
- Sensitivity to sweets
- Discomfort when chewing
- A feeling that something is stuck between the teeth
- No symptoms at all
One particularly common pattern is brief, sharp pain when biting or chewing, followed by relief when the pressure is removed.
A crack can be difficult to diagnose because it may not be visible on a conventional dental X-ray. Your dentist may need to assess your symptoms, examine the tooth carefully and perform additional tests to determine the location and severity of the fracture.
What’s the Difference Between a Cracked, Chipped and Broken Tooth?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they can describe different types of damage. Chipped tooth
A chipped tooth usually involves a small piece of enamel breaking away. A minor chip may be primarily a cosmetic concern, although larger chips can cause sensitivity or expose deeper layers of the tooth.
Cracked tooth
A cracked tooth has a fracture running through part of the tooth. The severity can vary considerably. Some cracks remain relatively superficial, while others extend toward the nerve or root.
Broken tooth
A broken tooth generally refers to a more significant loss of tooth structure. A tooth can break above the gumline, below the gumline, or potentially fracture in a way that involves the root.
The distinction is important because the treatment options can be very different depending on the extent of the damage.
How Is a Broken Tooth Repaired?
There is no single treatment for a broken tooth. Your dentist will first determine how much healthy tooth structure remains and whether the nerve or root has been affected.
Treatment may include:
Dental bonding
For a small chip or minor fracture, dental bonding may be used to replace lost tooth structure and improve the appearance of the tooth.
Composite resin is shaped directly onto the tooth and hardened to restore its shape. Filling
A filling may be appropriate when a relatively small amount of tooth structure has been lost and the remaining tooth is strong enough to support a filling.
Dental crown
A dental crown may be recommended when a substantial portion of the tooth has broken or the tooth has become structurally weakened.
A crown covers the remaining tooth and can help restore its shape, function and strength. Inlay or onlay
For certain fractures, an inlay or onlay may be an alternative to a traditional filling or full crown. These restorations can replace a larger amount of damaged tooth structure while preserving healthy tooth structure where possible.
Root canal treatment
If the fracture or trauma has damaged the pulp—the nerve and blood supply inside the tooth—root canal treatment may be necessary.
The root canal addresses the infected or inflamed pulp, after which the tooth can often be restored with a crown or another appropriate restoration.
Tooth extraction
Unfortunately, some fractures cannot be predictably repaired.
If a crack extends too far below the gumline or through the root in a way that compromises the tooth, extraction may be recommended. Your dentist will discuss replacement options when appropriate.
Can a Cracked Tooth Heal on Its Own?
Unfortunately, a crack in a tooth does not heal in the same way that a broken bone can heal.
A very small surface crack may not require treatment if it is not causing symptoms or compromising the tooth, but a deeper structural crack can progress over time.
This is one reason it is a good idea to have a cracked or broken tooth assessed rather than waiting to see whether it gets worse.
What Happens If I Ignore a Broken Tooth?
It can be tempting to ignore a broken tooth if it does not hurt.
However, a damaged tooth may become weaker and more susceptible to further fracture. A crack can also provide a pathway for bacteria to reach deeper portions of the tooth.
Depending on the location and severity of the fracture, delaying treatment may result in:
- Increasing sensitivity
- Pain when chewing
- Further tooth fracture
- Infection of the dental pulp
- An abscess
- More extensive treatment
- In some cases, loss of the tooth
This does not mean that every painless crack will become a serious problem. Rather, the important question is why the tooth broke and how far the damage extends.
Can a Broken Tooth Be Reattached?
Sometimes patients find the piece of tooth that broke off and wonder whether it can simply be put back.
In certain situations, a dentist may be able to use the original tooth fragment as part of the restoration. However, this depends on the size and condition of the fragment and the type of fracture.
Bring the fragment with you to your dental appointment. Your dentist can determine whether it can be used.
How Can I Prevent a Tooth From Breaking? You cannot prevent every dental fracture, but several habits can reduce the risk. Avoid chewing on hard objects
Avoid chewing ice, pens, fingernails and other hard objects that can place excessive force on your teeth.
Wear a mouthguard for sports
If you participate in contact or collision sports, a properly fitted mouthguard can help protect your teeth from traumatic injuries.
Address tooth grinding
If you grind or clench your teeth, speak with your dentist about whether a custom night guard may be appropriate.
Treat cavities promptly
Tooth decay can weaken the tooth. Regular dental examinations can help identify decay and other problems before they compromise the structure of the tooth.
Have old or damaged restorations assessed
Large fillings and heavily restored teeth can sometimes become more susceptible to fracture. Your dentist can monitor these teeth and recommend appropriate treatment when necessary.
When Should I See a Dentist for a Broken Tooth? You should arrange a dental assessment if you have:
- Broken or chipped part of a tooth
- A visible crack
- Pain when biting
- New sensitivity to hot or cold
- A tooth that feels different when you bite
- A sharp edge cutting your tongue or cheek
- A filling or crown that has broken
- A tooth that has become loose following an injury
Even if there is no pain, a dental examination can determine whether the tooth has sustained damage that needs treatment.
Dentist for Broken Tooth Treatment in Collingwood
If you have a broken, cracked or chipped tooth in Collingwood, the team at Collingwood Family Dental can assess the damage and help determine the most appropriate treatment.
Depending on the situation, treatment may involve a simple repair such as bonding or a filling, or a more comprehensive restoration such as a crown or root canal treatment.
Our goal is to preserve your natural tooth whenever it can be predictably restored while addressing pain, sensitivity and the underlying cause of the fracture.
If you have recently broken a tooth, contact Collingwood Family Dental to arrange an appointment. The sooner a damaged tooth is assessed, the sooner you can understand your treatment options and reduce the risk of further damage.
Collingwood Family Dental
1 Huron Street, Unit 205 , Collingwood, Ontario
(705) 532-9930
We welcome patients from Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Thornbury, Clearview, Stayner, Meaford, Angus, Shelburne and surrounding communities.