Fractured Tooth: Definition, Causes, and Treatments

A fractured tooth can happen as a consequence of grinding your teeth at night, chewing on hard foods, or even as a result of aging. Numerous factors can result in a chipped tooth. Sometimes the cracked teeth will be less harmful. Sometimes it might lead to a crack or break in your teeth. Although anybody can shatter a tooth, youngsters and the elderly are more vulnerable to a fractured tooth.

In this article, we will discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatments of teeth fracture.

What Exactly Is a Fractured Tooth?

When you experience a fractured tooth in your mouth, this syndrome is known as CTS (cracked tooth syndrome). You should get your cracked teeth checked as soon as possible for better results. Mostly fractured teeth can operate normally for many years after treatment, allowing for pain-free biting and eating.

Types of Cracks/ Teeth Fractures

Zigzag lines: These are extremely tiny fractures in the tough outer layer of teeth’s enamel. They are painless and do not need any care.

Broken cusp: This type of fracture typically develops near a dental filling. The pulp of the tooth is often unaffected; therefore, it seldom results in severe discomfort.

Gum line cracks: In most cases, a tooth that has a vertical fracture running through it, but has not yet extended to the gum can be saved. The tooth might need to be pulled if the fracture goes all the way to the gum. The greatest chance of preserving the cracked tooth is with early treatment.

Broken teeth: This type has a fracture that extends from the top of the tooth to the gum. Actually, it may be divided into two halves. Although it’s doubtful that the entire tooth may be salvaged due to the size of the break. Your dentist might be able to save some of it from teeth fracture.

Root fracture that is vertical: This kind of fracture rises upward from below the gum line. If the tooth doesn’t become infected, it frequently doesn’t cause many symptoms. It’s likely that the tooth will need to be removed.

It is essential to consult an orthodontist right away if you notice these symptoms or believe you have a chipped tooth.

Symptoms of Fractured Teeth

Not all cracked teeth exhibit symptoms. When they do, the following are the key signs:

• A fluctuating pain, especially when chewing.
•  Sensitivity to variations in temperature or consumption of sugary foods.
•  Burning close to the tooth is the early symptom of teeth fracture.
• When biting or chewing, a toothache. It often happens in cracked teeth.

Causes of Fractured Teeth

The following are the root causes of fractured teeth:

• Age, with numerous tooth, breaks occurring in those over 50.
• Eating tough items like sweets, ice, or popcorn kernels with your teeth.
• Habitual behaviors like chewing ice or gum.
• Having a root canal or a large dental filling weakens the tooth.
• Teeth grinding
• Trauma includes accidents involving bikes, cars, or people, falls, sports injuries, or violent abuse.

Treatments for Chipped Fractured Teeth

Broken teeth can be repaired in many different ways. There are no at-home remedies that may effectively avoid further damage to your teeth and mouth. A fractured tooth’s sharp edges might rip your soft tissues, increasing pain, and infection.  If this happens very costly treatment will be essential. A dentist should inspect a cracked tooth very soon. The following medical procedures can repair a chipped tooth.

Filling or Bonding

If a small tooth crack appears, it can be filled with a filling material (it comes in different types such as laser filling).  Your dentist will probably utilize a technique called bonding. Tooth-colored composite resin is added to a fractured tooth. Therefore, it does not look awkward and unnatural when you smile. It is not much pain to fix your chipped teeth with this method.

A resin that matches the tooth is applied by the dentist after an adhesive substance. The dentist uses an ultraviolet laser to solidify the bonding substance after molding it to resemble a genuine tooth.

Crown

Sometimes when a cracked tooth is massive, the dentist may grind or fill away a portion of the remaining teeth. After that, a crown, or tooth-shaped cap, will be placed over the remaining tooth to protect it. A fractured tooth is repaired with an improved appearance like this. Permanent caps and crowns are made from metal, porcelain fused to metal, all-resin, or all-ceramic materials.

The benefits vary with the types of crowns. The most strong and most durable caps are made from metal material. Porcelain and resin crowns are created; they look exactly like the tooth. Their color resembles a lot, so they can hide the broken teeth.  It takes two visits to get your fractured tooth crown. Your dentist could use x-rays to examine the tooth roots and supporting bone during the initial visit.

Dental Veneers

A dental veneer is used to fix a chipped tooth if it has appeared in the front. It can make the cracked tooth look like a healthy tooth and can restore it fully.  Dental veneers can repair a front tooth that has been damaged. It can restore the broken teeth’s appearance and can make them look healthy again. A dental veneer is extremely thin. It resembles the color of teeth. The materials used to make it are resin or porcelain. These substances have the ability to completely encase the tooth and give it a brand-new appearance.

Your dentist will use a liquid to etch the tooth’s surface. It roughens the surface of the cracked tooth. Dentist coats the veneer with a certain type of cement. Your dentist will use a special light or laser to activate chemicals in the cement once the veneer is in the exact place. The light helps it to harden rapidly around the chipped tooth.

Preventions for Fractured Teeth

While a fractured tooth cannot always be avoided, several precautions can be taken. These consist of:

• Avoid chewing-intensive meals like ice and popcorn kernels.
• Avoid cracking dry fruits with your teeth (such as walnuts).
• Eliminate dental-damaging behaviors such as grinding teeth or chewing on pencils. They can cause serious chipped teeth.
• Avoid clenching your teeth.
• Wear a mouth guard when participating in sports.
•  A person who grinds their teeth or clenches their jaw can become more prone to get chipped teeth.

Recap

If a cracked tooth is left unattended, it may eventually result in further issues, pain, and discomfort. You should look out for the symptoms mentioned in this article. Do some above-given preventions to avoid chipped teeth. Treatment of cracked teeth is very much possible.

Visit your dentist if you have a chipped tooth. Otherwise, you run the risk of further damaging or infecting your teeth, which might lead to eventual tooth loss.