Cracked/Broken Tooth

A small painless chip in your tooth might not cause pain, but more severe damage could lead to an infection inside the tooth that causes discomfort and sensitivity. The dentists and orthodontists at Hendricks Dental Specialists in Brentwood, Tennessee, evaluate cracked and broken teeth and can repair the damage with bonding, crowns, or a root canal when necessary. Book an evaluation for a fractured tooth by calling the office or booking one online today.

How did I get a cracked or broken tooth?

You can crack or break a tooth under many circumstances. While older adults and small children are more susceptible to cracked or broken teeth than young adults, you can fracture a tooth at any age because of:

• Teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Bad habits like chewing ice or gnawing on a pencil
• Hard candies like jawbreakers
• The pit of a fruit
• Large dental fillings
• Sports injuries
• Car accident injuries
• Physical violence

In some cases, cracks in your teeth show up just because your teeth get weaker with age. The experts at Hendricks Dental Specialists can examine any tooth fracture regardless of its cause and determine if you need treatment right away.

What should I do when I get a cracked or broken tooth?

Not all tooth breakage is the same: Some chips or cracks may be minor enough that you don’t need to visit the office right away, as the damage is mostly cosmetic. However, some chips or cracks damage the tooth more and put you at risk for complications like pulp inflammation or a tooth abscess.

If you notice major tooth breakage, schedule an emergency dentistry visit at Hendricks Dental Specialists right away. You should also visit if you experience tooth pain or increased sensitivity, even if the breakage is as small as a hairline crack or minor chip. Painless minor damage can often wait until your next routine appointment. 

How do dentists repair a cracked or broken tooth?

Hendricks Dental Specialists recommends treatment according to the severity of the fracture and whether or not any complications have occurred. You can repair a tooth with dental bonding, or a custom crown can keep the pieces of a tooth together and prevent more breakage. 

If the crack or chip is cosmetic only, your dentist can either contour the tooth to round the edges and smooth over a chip or give you a custom cosmetic veneer to mask the damaged tooth. 

Your dentist uses an X-ray to assess the tooth for any damage to its inner soft tissue called the pulp. If there is, a root canal removes the pulp before you get a protective crown. If the damage is severe enough to affect the root of the tooth and its nerve, your dentist might recommend an extraction.

Any time tooth breakage happens, a dental evaluation can tell you if your need for treatment is urgent. Call Hendricks Dental Specialists or schedule your visit online today.