Teeth can become chipped or broken for a variety of reasons. In addition to trauma – for example, falling and hitting your tooth on a table – they can break from normal biting and chewing. This is especially the case when chewing hard items, such as ice. Cracks and breaks may also occur due to dental decay or repeated clenching and grinding.

It\’s important to consult your dentist in each of these cases. He or she can examine the affected tooth, and identify whether the nerve is exposed and in jeopardy of infection. Your dentist can also recommend suitable treatment options depending on the nature of the break. Below, we\’ll explain why broken and chipped teeth may not necessarily hurt. We\’ll also describe the treatment approaches used to correct certain types of breaks.

Fractured Teeth And Pain: Does It Always Hurt?

Most people assume a broken or chipped tooth causes severe pain. However, some fractures and chips are painless. Much depends on the manner in which the break occurs, and its depth.

A tooth is comprised of multiple layers. The part that can be observed above the gum line is the crown, which is made of enamel. There is a layer of dentin beneath it. Under the layer of dentin lies the pulp chamber, which contains a network of nerves and blood vessels. The pulp chamber extends into root canals that are \”buried\” under the gum line and in the jawbone.

If one of your teeth suffers a crack or chip, the injury may not extend through the layers of enamel and dentin. You might feel an irritation or sharp pressure each time you chew, but severe pain immediately following the incident is unlikely. The reason is because the pulp chamber and nerves have not been exposed.

It\’s worth noting that even if the pulp chamber remains closed, the pulp can still become irritated and damaged over time. For this reason, treatment for the break or fracture is usually necessary.

How Cracked, Chipped, And Fractured Teeth Are Treated

As mentioned earlier, the type of dental treatment will depend on the type of tooth injury. We\’ve listed the most common forms of breakage below along with their corresponding procedures. When more than one treatment option can be applied, your dentist will help you choose between them based on your dental goals.

Craze Lines – These are tiny, shallow cracks. They only penetrate the top surface of the enamel. In many cases, craze lines require no treatment. However, your dentist may offer to smooth the surface of the affected tooth.

Fractured Cusp – The cusp is the chewing surface of the tooth. If a fracture compromises the cusp, but does not penetrate the pulp chamber, it is unlikely to produce more than mild discomfort. Your dentist can place a crown on the tooth to restore it. If a fracture does extend to the pulp chamber, and damages the pulp, a root canal may be necessary. In both cases, part of the tooth usually breaks off.

Split Tooth – A split is essentially a crack that extends vertically, from the cusp toward the root. It creates two separate segments of the tooth. In most cases, the pulp chamber is compromised and the pulp is damaged. Split teeth usually need to be extracted. The exception is when a molar has split, and one of the roots can be saved. When this is the case, a root canal is necessary.

Chipped Tooth – A chip can be repaired in a few ways, depending on the circumstances. Your dentist may recommend bonding, enamel shaping (for small chips), or a root canal if the chip penetrates the pulp chamber. Tiny chips may not require any treatment.

Deep Breaks – A tooth may break in a way that the fracture penetrates the pulp chamber and damages the pulp, but does not extend further. The tooth remains in one piece. When this happens, a root canal is necessary to save the tooth. The damaged pulp is cleared away, and a crown is applied for restoration.

Breaks Caused By Decay – Teeth can become compromised by decay to the point that they break from the inside. If the decay has caused extensive damage to the structure of a tooth, the tooth will need to be removed. Otherwise, a root canal and crown may be viable options for saving it.

Broken or chipped teeth can almost always be repaired. Extraction is not always necessary. If one of your teeth suffers damage, speak with your dentist regarding the most suitable form of treatment.

Thomas Cooke DDS is your friendly Raleigh Family Dentist. Contact him for advice and help on finding a dentist who specializes in Raleigh Dentures.

http://www.thomasecookedds.com is your friendly Raleigh Family Dentist. Contact him for advice and help on finding a dentist who specializes in Raleigh Dentures http://www.thomasecookedds.com/services-procedures/dentures-raleigh-north-carolina/.

Author Bio: Thomas Cooke DDS is your friendly Raleigh Family Dentist. Contact him for advice and help on finding a dentist who specializes in Raleigh Dentures.

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