Broken teeth often occur due to an accident or injury. However, there are many other broken teeth causes. For example, tooth decay can cause the weakening of tooth enamel, making the tooth more susceptible to breakage from everyday activities like eating or flossing.
If you are concerned about the health of your teeth, it is important to visit a dentist regularly for checkups and professional cleanings. Keeping your teeth healthy and strong can help prevent broken teeth.
Broken Teeth Causes
A broken tooth is a common dental emergency. Leaving a broken tooth untreated can leave you vulnerable to decay, tooth sensitivity, infection, pain, and mouth wounds. Some common causes of broken teeth causes include:
Facial Trauma
Trauma from sports injuries or falls can lead to broken teeth. This may be from direct impact to the teeth from the force of hitting another part of the body or a piece of sports equipment. This sudden impact often causes tooth breakage and may cause trauma to the tooth root and gum tissue, requiring a visit to an emergency dentist.
Tooth Decay
Bacteria in the mouth that causes tooth decay can also lead to broken teeth. As bacteria multiply on your teeth, it erodes the enamel, eventually causing small cracks and chips in your teeth.
Large Dental Fillings
Large dental fillings require your dentist to remove a significant amount of the tooth’s natural structure. This weakens the tooth and makes it susceptible to breakage from dental trauma.
Biting Hard Foods
Biting down on hard foods like nuts or ice can also cause your teeth to break, causing severe pain that requires dental emergency treatment. Although extremely strong, the enamel on your teeth is relatively thin and porous, so it is not strong enough to withstand repeated impacts from biting down on hard substances.
Teeth Grinding
Another common cause of broken teeth is teeth grinding (bruxism). Bruxism often happens due to poorly managed stress and anxiety, but it also may be caused by temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder or sleep apnea.
Teeth grinding places undue pressure on the teeth, often up to 250 pounds of force, compared to an average of 171 pounds of regular bite pressure. This can wear down the tooth surfaces, damage periodontal ligaments, and cause chips or cracks which weaken teeth.
Is a Broken Tooth a Dental Emergency?
A chipped or broken tooth is not necessarily a dental emergency. However, you will need to visit a dentist during regular business hours to have your tooth repaired as soon as possible. Left untreated, a chipped or broken tooth can introduce bacteria into the dentin and pulp layers of the tooth, leading to a severe infection or a dental abscess.
It is considered a dental emergency if your broken or chipped tooth is accompanied by severe pain, persistent bleeding, and excessive facial swelling. Visit your emergency dentist for X-rays, a manual exam, and other diagnostic testing to determine the causes of broken teeth and develop a treatment plan.
Treatment for a Broken Tooth
Depending on the severity of the break, your dentist may recommend various treatment options. These can include:
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Dental Bonding
A quick procedure in which a tooth-coloured resin is applied to repair damage from a minor break or chip.
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Dental Crowns
A dental restoration that covers the entire tooth surface to help strengthen and protect the tooth structure.
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Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is a specialised treatment to remove the damaged inner layer of your tooth, filling the root canals and restoring its strength and function.
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Dental Implants
A small titanium screw is placed into the jawbone to act as a replacement for the root of your missing tooth. Learn more information.
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Tooth Extraction
If the tooth is broken below the gum line or has sustained significant trauma that cannot be repaired with standard dental procedures, you may need an extraction. An extraction is a surgical procedure to completely remove a damaged or broken tooth.
Visit an Emergency Dentist at Total Care Dental Studio
At Total Care Dental Studio, we offer a wide range of emergency dental services designed to help you get the care you need as quickly as possible.
Whether you’re experiencing tooth pain, have a broken tooth, or need a root canal, our experienced emergency dentists can provide the treatment you need. Contact us on (07) 3186 8517 today for an emergency appointment.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Why do some people grind their teeth?
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/teeth-grinding
What is a root canal treatment?
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/root-canal-treatment
