Tooth fracture occurs when there are any cracks or breaks in the hard shell of the tooth. It may occur while we are chewing hard foods. Generally, tooth fracture exists mainly for the people who are grinding their teeth at night. It is natural for older people. We can also see this in people who play contact sports. There are different types in it.
Types of Tooth Fractures
Craze lines: These are very small just like a line on your teeth enamel. Craze lines naturally occur with age. These don’t cause any pain and no treatment is required.
Fractured cusp: It occurs on the biting surface of the tooth and tooth filling. It doesn’t cause any damage to the pulp of a tooth which contains tissues, nerves, and blood vessels. It can be easily diagnosed by a dentist through regular visits. These don’t cause any pain but tooth sensitivity may occur.
Cracked tooth: In this type of fracture vertical cracks will occur. If these cracks do not extend up to the gum line it is safe. If it extends to the gum line it causes pain and tooth sensitivity. In some cases, the removal of tooth is mandatory. The dentist sees the possible treatment to save the tooth.
Split tooth: If the crack travels below the gum line and is left without treating properly then it will lead to a split tooth. This may lead to a complete fracture of the tooth. This will cause dental restorations and traumatic injuries. If the split is severe then it is impossible to save the tooth.
Vertical root fracture: In this type of fracture cracks starts from below the gum line and travels upwards. These don’t show any symptoms unless the tooth gets infected. There are many chances to extract the tooth.
Causes of Tooth Fracture
- Excessive tooth grinding
- Naturally weakened tooth structure
- Chewing hard substances
- Giving excess stress to teeth
- Large fillings that weaken the tooth structure
- Accidents that cause tooth breakage
Symptoms of Tooth Fracture
- Pain in the tooth while chewing
- Swollen gums
- Tooth sensitivity
- Random pain
Treatment for Tooth Fracture
Dental Crowns: Dental crowns are nothing but fake tooth or tooth caps. If cracks are severe and the tooth can’t be removed, we use dental crowns to cover the damaged or decayed tooth. These consist of metals, ceramics, and composite resins. The dental crown holds the cracked teeth and restores their natural shape, look, and function.
Dental Bonding: Bonding is one of the most popular restorative treatments. It is a painless treatment. In this treatment, a combination of high-intensity curing light and special adhesive used in combination with tooth-colored composite resins are used to cure teeth. This material bonds to teeth and fills the cracks. It will take only one visit to the dentist.
Root Canal Treatment: If the crack is extensive and damages the pulp, root canal treatment is necessary. In this treatment infected pulp is removed and another root canal is placed. This root canal is filled with biocompatible material. A dental crown is also placed on the tooth to increase strength and appearance.
Tooth Extractions: If teeth have extreme damage, decay, trauma, or injury, then only dentists extract teeth. After extraction, dentists examine the tooth socket and remove if there are any fragments. Most of the patients choose dental implants after tooth extractions.
Complications on Tooth Fracture
- Pain in chewing
- Tooth sensitivity
- Bad breath
- Swelling in gums
- Fever
- Swollen glands in the neck
Prevention
- Avoid chewing hard objects such as ice, hard candies, etc.
- Beware of eating extreme hot and cold food items at a time
- Avoid grinding teeth
- Use mouth guards during sports
Sky Dental hospital in Vijayawada provides high-quality dentistry & also artistic skills that can improve a person’s health, smile, and confidence. Sky Dental Provides services like Gum Treatment, Implants, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Full mouth Rehabilitation and much more. Apart from this, there is a separate ward for any dental problems related to Children.