What Causes Tooth Breakage?
Contents
What is a Broken Tooth?
What are the Causes of Tooth Breakage?
Which Parts of the Tooth Can Be Broken?
What Are the Symptoms in Broken Tooth Syndrome?
How Is A Broken Tooth Diagnosed?
What are the Types of Tooth Fractures?
What Is Good For Broken Toothache?
What is Broken Tooth Treatment?
What Are the Complications of Broken Tooth?
Can Tooth Breakage Be Prevented?
The formation of fractures and cracks in the tooth may be due to many factors. Unexpected tooth fracture can sometimes be a sign of an underlying problem. Age-related degeneration, severe traumas and infections are among the factors that can be effective in tooth fractures. Breaking teeth while eating is also common. Broken teeth may not give any symptoms and you can live with a broken tooth for many years without any problems. In some cases, symptoms such as pain, tingling, tenderness or swelling may occur. Dentists determine a treatment plan according to the location, depth and severity of the crack or fracture and provide relief of symptoms such as pain and whining.
What is a Broken Tooth?
A broken tooth, also known as broken tooth syndrome, refers to a crack or fracture in the tooth. While the cracks can be small and harmless according to their location, in some cases, they can lead to tooth fragmentation and deterioration of various functions in the mouth. Dentist control is recommended in suspected broken teeth.
What are the Causes of Tooth Breakage?
tooth fractures; It can be seen depending on age, nutrition, tooth structure and some diseases. The main causes of tooth fractures are as follows:
be over 50 years old,
Biting hard and solid foods such as candy, ice, nuts, hard corn kernels or trying to break the shells of nuts,
Habits that cause pressure on the teeth, such as chewing gum or chewing ice,
Large dental fillings and root canal treatment,
Teeth grinding (bruxism) and jaw clenching
Severe traumas, falls from height, sports accidents, bicycle, car or motor accidents, melee sports, exposure to violence, especially blows to the mouth and its surroundings
Sudden changes in mouth temperature, such as eating ice to quickly cool the mouth after consuming a very hot food.
Which Parts of the Tooth Can Be Broken?
Teeth consist of two main parts. The crown is the visible portion above the gums. The root part is embedded under the gums. The crown and root parts have certain layers. These layers are known as enamel, dentin, and pulp. Enamel is a hard, solid and white outer surface. Dentin is the layer that forms the middle part of the tooth. The pulp is a soft, internally located tissue rich in blood vessels and nerve networks. Tooth fractures and cracks can affect any or all parts of the tooth layer. Treatment of broken teeth varies according to the layers of the fracture. Early treatment prevents the broken teeth from causing serious complications and allows the repair of the broken tooth close to the original.
Tooth fractures are most common in mandibular (lower jaw) molars located behind the lower jaw and upper anterior teeth. Molar fracture is slightly less common. While a single tooth fracture is usually seen, it is also possible to see fractures in more than one tooth, especially due to trauma and accidents. Individuals who have dental caries or who do not show the necessary sensitivity to oral and dental care will have a high risk of tooth fracture even in minor trauma or minor accidents. For this reason, it is necessary to be meticulous and pay attention to oral and dental health.
What Are the Symptoms in Broken Tooth Syndrome?
Broken or cracked teeth may not always show symptoms or may be overlooked when symptoms are mild. The main symptoms seen in broken tooth syndrome can be:
Pain that starts with functions such as chewing, speaking, biting and becomes increasingly severe, especially severe pain at the end of the bite
Sensitivity to temperature, drowsiness due to consumption of very cold and very hot foods
Increased discomfort after consumption of foods high in sugar
Swelling and redness in and around the gums
How Is A Broken Tooth Diagnosed?
It is important to question the history together with the physical examination of the dentist in the detection of the broken tooth. It is often questioned what the possible fracture might have been caused by, what was done just before the feeling of fracture, and the presence of a previous dental treatment. Trauma history or past accidents are also among the questions that should not be skipped. The habit of grinding the teeth or clenching the jaw during sleep or wakefulness, chewing ice or chewing gum frequently is guiding the diagnosis.
After a detailed evaluation, the dentist checks whether the tooth is dislodged, whether there is a broken piece. Biting a stick may be requested to question the presence of pain or tenderness. It is also important to examine the gums, as vertically continuing tooth fractures can also affect the gums and lead to infection (gingivitis). Light can be shined on the tooth (transillumination) to better see the cracks. Dental X-rays are among the most effective and reliable methods. It is possible to see broken teeth or bone deformities with dental x-rays. In some cases, computed tomography may also be preferred as an auxiliary imaging method in diagnosis.
What are the Types of Tooth Fractures?
Tooth fractures can be classified according to their location in the tooth and the reason for their occurrence. Types of tooth fractures are examined under 5 main headings:
Cracked teeth: These are vertically located cracks that can extend from the surface of the tooth to the gums. In some cases, tooth cracks can extend from the gum line to the tooth roots.
Hairline cracks: It is used to describe small, thin and difficult-to-select cracks in tooth enamel. These types of cracks are usually not painful and do not cause severe symptoms.
Filling fractures: These are the fractures that occur especially in and around the large-sized tooth filling. They do not cause pain.
Broken tooth: The tooth is usually divided into two parts and in some cases it can extend to the root of the tooth.
Vertical tooth root fractures: Vertical root fractures are risky in terms of infection of the teeth. It usually does not show any symptoms before infection develops, and the symptom-free period complicates the diagnosis.
What Is Good For Broken Toothache?
It is usually recommended to consult an orthodontist for the treatment of broken teeth. Some methods can be tried to help alleviate the symptoms in the process until the dental examination. The application of cold compresses with ice to prevent swelling and rapid infection development, and rinsing the mouth with salt water to ensure dental hygiene and oral hygiene are simple but effective methods that can be applied at home.
What is Broken Tooth Treatment?
Treatment in broken tooth syndrome varies depending on the extent and localization (location) of the damage in the tooth. Some of the dental treatments are as follows:
Bonding: Plastic resins can be preferred to fill the gap in the broken tooth.
Cosmetic shaping: It includes filing and polishing the rough surfaces of the broken and deteriorated tooth.
Veneer: It is the process of covering the tooth surface with a thin porcelain or plastic.
Crown: Broken tooth is repaired with porcelain or ceramic material. This method is generally preferred when there are no teeth available in the appropriate ratio for the veneer.
Tooth extraction: If the nerve or vascular network at the root of the teeth is severely damaged, the tooth may need to be extracted.
Root canal treatment: To prevent further damage and weakening of the tooth, the dental pulp can be removed. It is a preferred treatment method if the tooth fracture has reached the pulp.
Medications prescribed by the dentist can be helpful for controlling pain in a broken tooth.
What Are the Complications of Broken Tooth?
The most important and serious complication in cracked and broken teeth is infection that can spread to bones and soft tissues. Tooth infections (tooth abscess) symptoms are as follows:
High fever
Pain when chewing or biting
swollen or red gums
cold and heat sensitivity
Tenderness and swollen lymph nodes in the neck area
Bad odor in the mouth
The abscess, which often develops in dental infection, is drained by the dentist and antibiotics are prescribed if necessary.
Can Tooth Breakage Be Prevented?
To prevent tooth fracture, it is important to avoid habits that cause tooth fractures.
Avoiding the consumption of hard foods,
Not trying to break the crusty foods with teeth,
Taking care of oral care and hygiene,
In case of bruxism or during sports, using mouth guards or plates are among the precautions that can be taken.
However, the measures taken may not be able to prevent tooth breakage or cracking. In cases such as tooth breakage out of nowhere, finding the underlying cause may be possible with the control of a specialist. In addition to being cautious, it is recommended to apply to a health institution and have a detailed examination when symptoms are noticed.