Half My Tooth Broke Off
A broken tooth can cause additional damage if it is not treated in relatively short order. Anyone can experience a chipped or broken tooth though it is more common in children than it is in adult patients. A fractured tooth can result from eating hard foods, large dental fillings with recurrent decay, grinding your teeth, or trauma. Symptoms of a fractured tooth may include pain, sensitivity and swelling though you may not experience any symptoms at all. Your dentist has several methods to treat a fracture, depending on the location and severity.
A fractured tooth, sometimes referred to as cracked tooth syndrome (CTS), is when a literal crack occurs in your tooth. A tooth fracture can be small and harmless but more severe cracks can cause a part of your tooth to break or completely split in two.
Symptoms of a Broken Tooth
Cracked tooth symptoms may include:
- Constant or intermittent pain, especially when chewing
- Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures or sugary foods
- Swelling in the gum tissue around the affected tooth
Types of Tooth Fracture
Craze lines (hairline cracks): Craze lines are small, thin cracks on the outer enamel of your tooth that do not cause any pain. They are usually harmless and very common.
Cracked tooth: A cracked tooth is evidenced by a vertical crack that runs from the biting/chewing surface of your tooth to your gum line, sometimes even extending past the gum line and into the root.
Vertical root fracture: This type of fracture is a crack that starts below your gum line and travels toward the biting surface. Vertical root fractures may not cause symptoms unless your tooth becomes infected, at which point it can become very painful.
Fractured cusp: A fractured cusp is most often a crack that forms around an old dental filling. This type of fracture is not typically very painful but should still be repaired as soon as possible.
Split tooth: When a crack extends from your tooth’s surface to below your gum line, it can split your tooth into two parts and requires immediate attention.
Treatment for a Fractured Tooth
Treatment for a fractured tooth will depend on how severe the fracture is, which your dentist will evaluate and discuss your options with you. Common treatments for a cracked tooth include:
Contouring
Minor chips and breaks that do not cause symptoms may be able to be simply smoothed out by your dentist to remove rough edges and polish the broken tooth.
Composite Bonding
Dental bonding can be used to repair minor fractures or to restore a fracture after root canal therapy. Composite bonding uses the same material that is used to restore a small cavity.
Crown
A crown is a porcelain or ceramic restoration that fits over the entire fractured tooth all the way to the gum line. Crowns are often used to restore a root canal treated tooth or a tooth with severe decay as well as to save a fractured tooth.
Root Canal Therapy
When a fracture is severe, it can be deep enough to extend through the enamel and dentin into the pulp which can then become infected. A root canal removes the infected pulp and prevents further damage and infection.
Extraction
If a broken tooth is deemed hopeless and cannot be saved, removing the tooth may be the only option. Your dentist will provide you with restorative options to replace the tooth once it has been removed.
Whether or not you experience symptoms, a cracked tooth should be addressed by your dentist as quickly as possible. Even if it is a minor chip, you still want to go ahead and have it smoothed to prevent further damage to the tooth and surrounding tissue.