Why Did a Piece of My Tooth Break off?
The outer layer of the tooth is made of dental enamel. The hardest substance in the human body, enamel protects the structural and biological tissues that make up each tooth, helping maintain its shape and its lustrous, tooth-like appearance. Though it is extremely durable, dental enamel is not indestructible, and it’s common for enamel to weaken and wear over time, making the teeth more susceptible to breakage as people age. Other forces can cause a piece of your tooth to break off, no matter what age you are, like accidents or traumas to the face or chronic grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaws. Sometimes, a tooth can crack and you won’t even notice, though if a substantial piece of tooth breaks off it’s likely to cause some noticeable symptoms, in addition to the noticeably missing chunk of tooth. These symptoms often include sensitivity in the tooth and could include pain and swelling. Once your dentist has determined the cause of your dental fracture, they’ll repair the tooth and help you learn how to prevent additional damage to your teeth.
The upper front teeth and the rear molars are the teeth that are most likely to crack or break. Most of the time, people only fracture a single tooth, but in instances of more severe trauma to the face, it’s possible to fracture multiple teeth. When people have multiple dental cavities, their teeth are more prone to fracture, even when the injury they sustain is more mild. When cracks are mild, they may not cause any symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur, they often include a toothache when chewing or biting with the tooth, sensitivity to excessive temperatures or sugar, swelling near or around the tooth, and pain that appears sporadically but is particularly noticeable when chewing.
A broken tooth won’t get better on its own, so make sure to see your dentist if you suspect, or know, that you have a broken tooth. If your tooth breaks because of injury or trauma and you’re in significant pain, seek emergency medical attention. If you have a broken tooth that’s causing discomfort or interfering with your day-to-day activity, call your dentist and explain; they’ll get you in as soon as they can and offer suggestions for pain management and behavior modifications while you want to see them. Otherwise, it’s okay to ask about minor cracks at your next scheduled dentist appointment, and your dentist will keep an eye out for them during your exam, too.
Treating cracks can prevent additional damage from occurring and could even save the tooth. Once the cause of the break has been determined, you and your dentist will discuss your treatment options, which might include dental crowns, veneers, or bonding and contouring treatments. If the crack has led to infection, you may need a root canal to save the tooth before it is structurally repaired, and when the tooth has been damaged beyond repair, it will be extracted and you and your dentist can review your dental restoration options. If the crack is very mild, your dentist may recommend leaving it untreated, with the promise that you’ll continue to see the dentist for routine checkups and monitoring. When monitored consistently and treated promptly, a fractured tooth can often be maintained or repaired and not lead to any additional issues down the road.