With the amount of chewing that our teeth do on a daily basis, it is no surprise that generally healthy teeth are strong, durable, and structurally sound. While our teeth are much stronger than most people think, they are not invincible, so to speak, and with the right amount of force, a tooth can break. Breaking a tooth can be completely accidental and unpredicted while in some cases tooth loss can be prevented, especially when the loss occurs due to poor dental care. What patients should know is that a tooth breakage can be measured in severity; the more severe the break, the more important it is to seek dental assistance ASAP. In many cases, a broken tooth is a mere cosmetic problem that doesn’t require urgent care.

 

Breaking a tooth isn’t something that goes undetected. When you break a tooth you’ll feel it as it is generally a very painful situation that can sometimes, depending on the break, which can cause bleeding and sensitivity. Some patients who break a tooth may only suffer from a minor chip while other patients have major fractures that may require complete tooth extraction and replacing the broken tooth with an implant.

Teeth – Understanding The Structure To Understand A Break

Everyone’s teeth are made up of enamel, dentin, and the pulp. The enamel is the hard coating that protects all of the teeth. The dentin is the main part of the tooth and the pulp is inside of the dentin and houses blood vessels and nerves. If you have a broken tooth, it’s important to know how a tooth is structured as the deeper the break, the more important medical assistance becomes.

Commonly a non-severe tooth breakage can be classified as a chipped tooth, which means that the breakage only impacted the enamel. Generally with a chipped tooth, part of the enamel is broken off but in most cases the enamel can be replaced and is a mere cosmetic flaw. But, if a chipped tooth is severe enough that the dentin becomes exposed, a patient may suffer from tooth sensitivity. In this case seeing a dentist as soon as possible is urged, but immediate assistance isn’t required.

See Blood? Seek Dental Assistance

The most severe type of breakage that a patient can suffer from is one that not only impacts the enamel and the dentin, but the tooth’s pulp as well. If the tooth’s pulp is affected, more than likely the tooth will begin to bleed. A broken bleeding tooth always required assistance from a dentist as if left exposed, the tooth’s pulp can become infected which could then cause a major infection in your mouth and other parts of your body.

To keep your mouth as clean as possible, after a severe tooth breakage be sure to rinse your mouth using water and a cold compress to reduce the pain and swelling.

Fixing A Broken Tooth

Just as there is more than one type of tooth breakage, there are different dental procedures that can be used to fix a broken tooth or replace it altogether. In a chipped tooth, many times dental bonding can be used to replace and restore the enamel so that the tooth remains protected. When the dentin is impacted, some patients may need to undergo a root canal as well as having a dental crown placed on the tooth.

In the event that your tooth breakage is of the more severe cases, a dental implant may be required especially if the tooth is injured to a state that repair isn’t an available option. Don’t hesitate to contact to Dr. Dunayer’s office if you have a broken tooth. Remember, the more severe the break, the more crucial it is that you seek help from a dental professional. With the help of Dr. Dunayer your teeth will be protected and a broken tooth can be taken care of properly.