Help! I Broke My Tooth!
Almost every day we get a call from a patient who has broken a tooth. Usually it means that to save the tooth, we have to place a crown or permanent restoration over it to keep it from breaking further. Sometimes the tooth is fractured so severely that it can’t be saved and requires an extraction.
(Photo by Coronation Dental Specialty Group / CC BY)
What causes teeth to break?
Well, there are several factors, one of which we see in almost all tooth fractures. The most common contributing factor is silver amalgam fillings- these fillings have the unique property of expanding as they age. The larger the filling, the thinner the tooth structure left around the filling. So, if someone bites just the right (or wrong) way, you hear that crack!
Sometimes teeth break under the gumline and into the root and have to be removed as there isn’t enough sound tooth structure to save it. In these cases, an implant or bridge needs to be done.
There is a more common type of tooth fracture. One where the inside aspect of the tooth just shears away. These fractures can usually be saved with a crown, after making sure no decay is present.
The second common factor is bruxism– the habit of grinding or clenching the teeth. Many bruxers break teeth that don’t even have fillings in them, but they always have a higher percentage of broken teeth than people who don’t brux or clench.
If you or someone you know does grind their teeth and are worried about a tooth or some teeth, don’t hesitate to give us a call and we will be glad to check it out for you! Don’t wait until it hurts!
