What are the most common types of chipped or cracked teeth?
What we see most often are small chips, cracked teeth, or sometimes even a larger piece of a tooth breaking off. Usually, these issues happen with a tooth that already has some sort of filling or restoration in it, and a piece around that restoration can chip or break off.
What should I do first if I chip, break, or crack a tooth?
First thing: calm down. Don't panic. Take a second and see what's going on. If you're having pain, swelling, or discomfort, call us right away so we can get you in, take a look at it, and see how extensive the damage is.
That being said, sometimes you can break off a piece of your tooth and have absolutely no pain or discomfort. In that situation, we'd still want you to come in and let us evaluate it to see how much damage there is and what we need to do to repair it.
What are the treatment options for a chipped tooth?
There are multiple options for a chipped tooth, and it really depends on how extensive the chip is. Sometimes we have patients come in with a very minor chip that's driving their tongue crazy, and all we do is polish it just a little bit, and that's all it needs.
Depending on how extensive that chip, crack, or fracture is, treatment can range from a small tooth-colored filling to a crown to help protect the remaining tooth structure. It really depends on how much natural tooth structure is left and the condition of the tooth.
I usually tell patients that I evaluate the tooth, and if I think a filling can appropriately restore it, we'll go ahead and do a filling. But if I don't think a filling is going to provide enough support for the remaining tooth structure, I may recommend a crown. It really depends on the individual tooth and how much natural tooth structure is left.
How do you fix a cracked molar?
For a cracked molar, there are multiple ways to address it depending on the type and extent of the crack. Because your molars take a lot of the forces from chewing, biting, and grinding, a crown is commonly considered when a crack has weakened one of these back teeth.
If we see a fracture on one of those teeth, our goal is to evaluate the fracture, see what's going on with it, and determine how to take care of it before the damage progresses to the point where the tooth may not be able to be saved.
Can a tooth heal itself from a crack or chip?
Unfortunately, no. Lost or fractured enamel doesn't regrow and restore a chipped or cracked tooth on its own. There are things you can do to help protect the tooth and keep it comfortable until we see it, but home remedies aren't going to repair the underlying damage.
What symptoms should I watch for with a cracked or chipped tooth?
There are a few symptoms that we ask patients to watch for. One is pain or sensitivity when chewing. If you're chewing and having new or persistent sensitivity, please let us know. You should also pay attention to swelling, redness, bleeding, or other changes around the tooth and give us a call so we can see what's going on.
Can a tooth be cracked without any pain?
Yes, for sure. We see that happen. There are times when people can crack their tooth, with a pretty good chunk of it coming off, and have absolutely no pain or discomfort. It all depends on where that fracture or crack is.
There are cusp tips and other areas of your tooth that can break off without the damage getting close to the nerve or inner part of your tooth, so you may not have that sensitivity. But just because you have no pain or discomfort doesn't mean it's not a situation that we need to take a look at and address so it doesn't get any worse.
Can a cracked or broken tooth lead to more extensive treatment?
If the damage to the tooth, crack, or break is extensive enough, a crown or another type of restoration may be needed to protect the remaining tooth structure. But there are times when a fracture or crack can extend below the gumline, onto the root surface, or deep into the tooth.
If the pulp inside the tooth becomes affected, root canal treatment may be needed. If the crack is extensive enough that the tooth can't be predictably restored, it could eventually need to be extracted.
What should I know about home remedies for a cracked or chipped tooth?
The main thing you should know about home remedies is that they're mainly intended to give you a little relief from what's going on in your mouth. They're not going to take care of the underlying issue or problem that's causing the pain or discomfort.
They're really just temporary measures until we can get you in, take a look at the tooth, see what's going on, and make a plan to address the issue.
Want to learn more? Call Reiser Dental at (720) 797-5554 or email [email protected]. Our team is happy to answer your questions and help schedule your visit.