Why did a piece of my tooth break off?
A cracked or fractured tooth can happen to anyone at any age, or if you grind your teeth, experience some trauma, and other causes. You might not have any immediate symptoms of a fractured tooth that can be identified. Or you could have some sensitivity, some pain, and even swelling. Your dentist can treat the broken tooth with several options, depending on the location and severity.
A cracked tooth, or fractured tooth, is when a crack appears. The crack might be quite small and harmless. Or it can cause your tooth to break off.
Tooth fractures are more common in smaller children and then older people, although anyone can crack a tooth. If you believe you have a broken tooth, visit your dentist soon.
What Parts of a Tooth can Crack?
A tooth consists of two fundamental parts:
- The crown visible above your gums.
- The roots which lie below your gums.
Every crown and corresponding root system consist of several layers:
- Enamel: The hard white outer surface.
- Dentin: The second layer of the tooth.
- Pulp: The soft inner tissue in the center that contains blood vessels and nerves.
A fractured or broken tooth can affect one or all these layers. The proper treatment for a damaged tooth depends on where the fracture is located on the tooth and the actual severity of the crack.
A broken tooth can be painful or feel sensitive, even though some fractures cause no other symptoms. Seeing your dentist and getting proper treatment increases your chances of repairing a cracked tooth.
Common Causes for a Fractured, Cracked, or Broken Tooth
The most frequent causes of tooth fractures are:
- Trauma or an accident, including a fall, a sports injury, a bike accident, or car accident.
- Teeth clenching or grinding, called bruxism.
- Your natural age, with many tooth cracks happening at age 50 and older.
- Biting on hard foods, such as popcorn, candy, or ice.
- Unhealthy habits, like chewing ice.
- A large dental filling or a root canal, which weakens the tooth.
Breaks, cracks, and fractures happen more often with your upper front teeth and your lower molars. Most often people fracture one tooth, but more trauma can damage multiple teeth. If you have dental cavities, you also have a higher risk of fractures.
The Most Common Symptoms and Signs of a Cracked, Fractured, or Broken Tooth
A cracked tooth is not always immediately evident. When it becomes evident, the main symptoms include:
- Discomfort or pain, especially while chewing.
- An increased sensitivity to not and cold temperature changes.
- Swelling and tenderness around the tooth.
- A throbbing toothache when your bite.
When A Damaged Tooth Escalates
A cracked tooth can lead to an infection, or even a tooth abscess. Schedule an appointment to see your dentist if you notice one of these symptoms:
- Bad breath (halitosis).
- Tooth sensitivity to temperature changes.
- Constant tooth pain.
- Swollen gums.
- A fever.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
The Broken Tooth Restoration Procedure
Repairing your broken tooth can take just one visit or several depending on the proper treatment needed. Your dentist will propose your solution after the severity is identified and then give you a better idea of the time. For example:
- Dental bonding: Completed in just one hour.
- A dental crown: Properly fitted in two appointments.
- An extraction: The extraction is immediate, but the replacement option will take longer.
- Veneers: It usually will take three to four weeks to create custom veneers.