How to Fix a Cracked Tooth

However it happens, having a tooth chip, break, or crack in half is not a pleasant experience. Often, these kind of tooth fractures happen when we are least expecting it. One minute you are chewing on a pizza or snacking on some chips and the next your tooth is cracked in half. The outsider layer of the tooth, the enamel, is incredibly tough, but it can still break from time to time. Thankfully, there are many options available to fixing a cracked tooth. Below is more information on what can cause a tooth to crack and steps you can take to fix your damaged tooth.

What Causes a Tooth to Crack?

Usually, a cracked or broken tooth is caused by damage that has happened to the tooth over time without you knowing. Repetitive jaw clenching, teeth-grinding and chewing on hard foods like candy or ice can cause damage to the tooth’s enamel. After a period of damage, the tooth may eventually crack or fracture. Having a tooth crack is not pleasant. The inside of the tooth contains nerves and blood vessels that will be exposed if the tooth is cracked, resulting in some serious pain and discomfort. Often it is this pain that brings a person’s attention to their cracked tooth.

What to Do If a Tooth is Cracked?

If you notice pain and discomfort when eating, or you find your tooth is cracked in half, the first thing to do is to immediately call your dentist. Left untreated, a broken tooth can result in infection in the tooth that can spread to the gums and jawbone. The broken tooth or possible infection can lead to more serious permanent damage. Until you are able to visit your dentist make sure you take extra care with your damaged tooth. Keep your mouth clean by gently brushing and rinsing and stick to soft foods that won’t cause more damage or pain.

Fixing a Cracked Tooth

Once you are able to visit your dentist, they will get started on choosing the best tooth repair treatment to save your broken tooth. There are many treatment options available, however the right one will depend on the extent of the damage to your tooth. If the crack is more of a chipped area, dental bonding or filling may be the easiest and most effective treatment approach. A crown is another available treatment where an artificial cover is created to place over the top of the damaged tooth, restoring its function and preserving the tooth. If the crack is more severe and the inside of the tooth is exposed, a more serious treatment may be required, such as a root canal. If the tooth is too badly damaged and cannot be preserved, the tooth may need to be removed and replaced.

Our teeth are an important part of everyday living. Because of this, they take more wear and tear than we realize. Damage to teeth can happen overtime. The best way to avoid damage is to keep your teeth healthy and strong by practicing good oral hygiene. If you do have a crack or fracture in your tooth, the best thing you can do is take immediate action and call your dentist.