If your tooth breaks while you’re biting ice or a hard nut, or if you’re using your teeth to open a box, it’s probably pretty clear why a piece of your tooth broke off. This is also the case if you fell or faced some other type of impact that clearly affected your teeth. Sometimes, though, the reasons a piece of your tooth broke off aren’t as clear. As people age, their bones and teeth often weaken, and less stimulus might be required for a tooth to fracture; a weak tooth might break under reasonably normal circumstances. It’s also more likely for teeth to break where a filling once sat and for otherwise decayed teeth to break more easily and more frequently.
Teeth can crack horizontally or vertically, both above and below the gum line, and the tooth might remain intact, or a piece of it might fully break off. Most of the time, the affected teeth are the top front teeth or the mandibular molars, which are the molars in the lower jaw. It’s logical that the mandibular molars would break more frequently, as they’re clearly the teeth that sustain the most force when chewing, and it’s also clear that the front teeth can break easily when they clench together or bite something hard, for example. Dental damage is more likely when a person’s oral health is compromised, when tooth decay is present, or when a person’s teeth are weakened because of age or a health concern, but ultimately, using your teeth to do anything other than bite and chew food is probably the most common reason that a piece of your tooth might break off.
Dentists use several different methods to repair broken teeth, depending on the nature and location of the damage and the needs and preferences of the patient. Dentists also try to address underlying concerns with patients. For example, if your tooth cracked because you chronically grind your teeth, a condition called bruxism, your dentist will work with you to address your bruxism while planning your dental restoration, making sure you’re doing your part to protect your restored tooth going forward. You can also do your part to prevent your teeth from breaking by maintaining a solid oral hygiene routine, including not using your teeth as tools, and a balanced, nutritious diet that includes lots of fibrous fruits and vegetables that help exercise the jaw. Keeping your teeth and bones healthy can help your teeth stay strong as you age, and your dentist can review repair options with you, no matter why your tooth broke or how much of it broke off.
The optimal approach to treatment often depends on the reason the tooth broke and the nature and location of the fracture. When fractures are very minor, causing no pain and not threatening the integrity of the tooth, your dentist might recommend simply monitoring the tooth at your routine appointments. If the appearance of minor dental fractures bothers you, your dentist might recommend a more cosmetic treatment like a porcelain veneer or a less-invasive treatment like contouring or bonding. If the damage to your tooth is more substantial, it may be repaired with a new filling or the structure restored with a dental crown. If the tooth has sustained too much structural damage to be restored, or if the bone, tooth, or surrounding tissue is damaged or infected, it may be necessary to extract the broken tooth and repair the supporting tissues before replacing the extracted tooth with a dental prosthetic.
Initially, a small crack in a tooth might not be a big deal, though small fractures can certainly worsen over time and should be monitored by a dentist. If a piece of your tooth breaks off, though, it’s a sign that you should call your dentist, no matter what the reason is. Your dentist will know a way to solve the problem with a dental restoration, and, with your cooperation, they can teach you good habits that will help you keep your restoration and your other teeth in place and intact.
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