Broken Teeth

 It’s important that we keep our teeth strong and healthy. However, they can chip, crack, or break from the following reasons:
1. Biting down on something hard
2. Being hit in the face or mouth
3. Habits such as biting your nails, holding and opening objects with your teeth
4. Grinding and Clenching
5. Falling or accident
6. Decay that weaken the tooth
7. Large, old amalgam fillings
When a tooth chips or breaks, it may not hurt.  Larger breaks can hurt and damage the nerve inside the tooth. Extreme discomfort can happen when nerve endings in the dentin (second tooth layer under enamel) are exposed to air, chewing and temperature.  It may be constant or intermittent.  This discomfort is a serious warning sign so see your Dentist immediately.
Minor cracks or chips don’t always need treatment.  Your dentist may repair it with a filling or lightly smooth out any rough spots.  A larger crack or fracture can involve the entire tooth, all the way down to the nerve and gradually spreads. Cracks can sometimes be repaired with filling material. Often it will need a crown to prevent the crack from getting worse. Any nerve damage requires a root canal.
A Broken cusp affects the chewing surfaces of the teeth. They may or may not affect the nerve, depending on how serious the break is.  Frequently, a full or partial crown will be required.
If the cracks cause a vertical break or split root, it is least likely to be saved. These breaks are often painful and the area around the root may be inflamed or infected.  In many cases, the tooth has to be removed.
Teeth can break if a cavity weakens it from the inside out.  Depending on the size of decay, it may be saved with a filling, root canal, or crown.  In some cases, if the cavity is extensive the tooth may have to be removed.
Always call your dentist if you experience any of these.  Until then, keep the area clean with warm water, and take an over the counter pain reliever for any discomfort.  Apply 10 minutes of pressure with gauze or tea bag if you experience bleeding.  For swelling, apply a cold pack to the cheek or lips over the broken tooth.  If you can’t get to your dentist right away, cover the part of the tooth that is in your mouth with temporary dental cement that is found in any drugstore.
For more information, please call 661-505-2926.  New patients always welcome.  You can also learn more at www.maycontedds.com.