Lifestyle / Medical

Broken and Chipped Tooth | How to Fix it?

Author- Dr. Saumya Lal 

Keywords – Tooth, broken, or chipped. 

Abstract

Chipped, fractured, or broken teeth are unpleasant to deal with, yet they do occur. Perhaps you’re chomping ice or hard candy when you notice something isn’t quite right in your mouth. It’s an experience that a lot of people have had and are all too familiar with. Although the enamel layer on teeth is the most mineralized and toughest tissue in the body, its strength is limited. Many things can cause broken teeth as a result of these limitations, and understanding how to deal with them when they do occur is critical. Here’s a quick rundown on what to do if your tooth is chipped, fractured, or shattered.

Broken and chipped teeth are typically the consequence of one of three things:

• Trauma

 Teeth can be cracked, chipped, and broken as a result of blunt force trauma to the face and/or head. Pipes, fingernails, and other objects inserted between the teeth have the same effect.

• Cavities 

Cavities are bacteria-filled pockets that feed on the tissues of the teeth. The exterior covering of the tooth is made up of enamel, which is the toughest material in the body. Dentin is the tooth’s inner layer, which is softer than enamel and usually contains nerve endings. Dentin is considerably more prone to cavities than enamel because of its softer nature. When the dentin and/or enamel have a big cavity in the proper place, the tooth might be weakened to the point that it cracks, chips, or breaks when chewing or biting.

• Teeth grinding is very common (bruxism)

Stress can lead to more grinding of the teeth, especially at night when sleeping. Teeth can be cracked and chipped as a result of grinding. The least harmful cause of chipped teeth is this. Bruxism, on the other hand, can wear teeth down over time, resulting in other serious dental issues.

Bonded fillings (white) or crowns are used to repair broken and chipped teeth.

Chipped tooth 

Many individuals assume that a chipped tooth would be unpleasant or upsetting, although this is rarely the case. It is possible to chip a tooth and not experience any pain. Most people only experience pain when a chip in their tooth is large enough to expose sensitive root or inner pulp material. In most situations, these chips start at the tip of a tooth, outside edge, and work their way in toward the middle. The method you treat a chipped tooth is mostly determined by the size and severity of the chip, as well as the source. If the chip is little, your dentist may be able to fill and polish it, giving it the look of a real tooth in a matter of minutes. This is the perfect circumstance. 

If the chip is extremely significant, your dentist may need to place a cap on the tooth, which will not only restore its function but also enhance its look. A root canal may be the only option for very big chips.

Broken teeth

 Broken teeth vary from chipped teeth in that they usually start at the gum line and progress to the enamel, or outer layer, of the teeth. Cracks can damage the entire tooth, all the way down to and beyond the root, if they’re severe. While it’s possible to chip a tooth and never experience any discomfort, broken teeth are much more common. You probably have a broken tooth if you experience discomfort when chewing on one side of your mouth or the other. Broken teeth may be difficult to heal, so it’s essential to see your dentist right once if you notice one. If the crack is tiny, the dentist may be able to repair it by putting a resin into the tooth’s fracture line. This will assist to keep the tooth together and prevent the fracture from spreading. If the break is too large for resin, the dentist may use a tooth splint, which functions similarly to a butterfly bandage: the dentist will select healthy and strong nearby teeth and tie the injured tooth to it. This will help to close the break and start the healing process.

If the fracture is serious enough to have injured the pulp, a root canal will be necessary, same as it is with a chip.

Chipped, fractured, or broken teeth are unpleasant to deal with, yet they do occur. Perhaps you’re chomping ice or hard candy when you notice something isn’t quite right in your mouth. It’s an experience that a lot of people have had and are all too familiar with. Although the enamel layer on teeth is the most mineralized and toughest tissue in the body, its strength is limited. Many things can cause broken teeth as a result of these limitations, and understanding how to deal with them when they do occur is critical. Here’s a quick rundown on what to do if your tooth is chipped, fractured, or shattered.

When it comes to dental care, chipped and broken teeth are all in the same boat. If you have a fractured or chipped tooth, the first thing I would recommend is seeing your dentist as soon as possible. If you wait, the tooth may be severely injured or develop an infection, which might spread to your jawbone and send you to the hospital or necessitate costly dental treatment. Try the following self-care techniques while you wait to visit your dentist:

• Take an over-the-counter pain medication. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen or anything similar if a tooth hurts. To decrease swelling and inflammation, as well as the risk of infection, rinse your mouth with saltwater.
• Sharp edges should be covered. Cover the sharp edge of the fractured tooth with a piece of dental wax or sugar-free chewing gum if it’s cutting the interior of your mouth. This will prevent it from ripping up your tongue, the inside of your lip, or the inside of your cheek.
• Soft meals should be consumed. It’s conceivable that you won’t want to eat with a broken tooth, but if you do, stick to soft foods and chew on the side of your mouth where the tooth isn’t broken.

When you find a cracked tooth, the first thing you should do is schedule an appointment with your dentist, just as you would with chipped or broken teeth. It is preferable to do so as soon as possible. If the break is serious and has penetrated more than the enamel of your tooth, you should get treatment right once to avoid more fractures or infections. A dentist may prescribe a root canal or a crown in certain situations.

The doctor may be able to use filler material to heal the break and prevent it from growing worse in some circumstances, depending on the location and severity of the break. While these procedures are time-consuming, they can help you save your teeth if you have a fracture. The ultimate alternative is to have the tooth removed completely. This is only done when the tooth can no longer be preserved due to damage to the root. 

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