Teeth are essential structures in our bodies that allow us to live a normal and happy life. They are responsible for cutting and grinding our food, and they also play an extremely important aesthetic role nowadays. For all these reasons, it can be very distressing when we break a tooth, and we often don’t know how to handle the situation or what steps to take. In today’s article, we’ll talk about broken teeth, what you should do immediately when it happens, and how to manage the entire situation. But first, is it really easy for a tooth to break?
Are Teeth Easy to Break?
First of all, it’s important to note that when a tooth is completely healthy, it’s not easy to break it. Of course, this doesn’t mean it’s impossible. A very strong blow, such as falling from a great height, for example, can cause a healthy tooth to break.
However, there are some people who have weaker teeth, making them susceptible to breakage from things as simple as lighter blows or even biting very hard foods. Some of the reasons a tooth could be weaker include:
- Bruxism
- Worn teeth
- Cavities
- Crossbite
- Excessive consumption of sodas and acidic foods
Therefore, if you experience any of the symptoms or engage in any of the habits listed above, it’s important to seek correction as soon as possible to avoid more serious issues, like a broken tooth.
What to Do When a Tooth Breaks?
It’s not always possible to prevent a tooth from breaking. Sometimes accidents happen and we need to be aware of that. That’s exactly why it’s important to know what to do when a tooth breaks. The steps you should take are:
- Go to the Dentist as Soon as Possible
- Keep the Broken Part of the Tooth
- Clean the Wound
Let’s talk a little more about each of these steps so you understand how they can help you.
Go to the Dentist as Soon as Possible
When a serious problem like a broken tooth occurs, the first thing you should do is seek a professional who can solve it for you. So our recommendation is that you call your dentist and schedule an emergency appointment as soon as possible.
Since a tooth can sometimes break without any obvious blow or direct damage, a dentist can provide a more precise diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment for your case.
Keep the Broken Part of the Tooth
Another important step when a tooth breaks is to save the broken piece and take it with you to the dentist. The professional will be able to assess whether it’s possible to reattach the fragment or even use it as a mold for a prosthesis. The important thing is that you don’t throw it away under any circumstances.
Clean the Wound
Even before seeing a dentist, it’s important to thoroughly clean any wound that might have been caused by the blow. This helps prevent the accumulation of bacteria and, consequently, infections that could turn a broken tooth into an even bigger problem.
Treatments for a Broken Tooth
When you visit a dentist, you’ll see that there are several types of treatments for a broken tooth. Each one is more suitable for specific situations. Let’s look more closely at each so you can better understand. These treatments are:
- Polishing
- Restoration
- Prosthesis Placement
- Crown Placement
Polishing
Polishing is a type of treatment done when only a small piece of the tooth has broken off. It basically consists of minimally wearing down other parts of the tooth to restore its uniform shape, so that it doesn’t interfere with your chewing or your appearance.
Restoration
The restoration process consists basically of filling the broken part of a tooth with resin or silver amalgam, so that the tooth regains its original shape. This treatment is used when the lost piece of the tooth isn’t too large, that is, when it’s relatively easy to repair.
Prosthesis Placement
This type of treatment is the most severe, and first requires the total extraction of the broken tooth. It’s mainly indicated when the root of the tooth is also affected, either by a very strong blow or by a cavity that has compromised the entire tooth.
In this case, a dentist will take an X-ray and then remove the affected tooth. After healing, they’ll place a prosthesis so you can chew normally and also to avoid aesthetic problems.
Crown Placement
A person needs to have a crown placed when a fracture has damaged a significant part of the tooth. A crown is essentially a type of prosthesis that completes the remaining part of the tooth, but keeps its root intact.
In some cases, if the root of the tooth is very exposed, a root canal treatment may be needed before a crown is placed to avoid even bigger problems.
Consequences of Not Treating a Broken Tooth
As you’ve seen, a tooth can break in several ways and might require different kinds of treatments. Therefore, the consequences of not treating a broken tooth can also vary. Some may be simple, such as an aesthetic issue, which can still be greatly bothersome for many people and directly affect their social life.
However, these consequences can also be more serious, since an untreated broken tooth can allow bacteria to accumulate in a wound, leading to several types of serious diseases and complications in a person’s mouth. For this reason, we stress the importance of seeing a dentist as quickly as possible so that the problem can be properly treated.
No one likes to be without a tooth, let alone have a half-broken one. Even though it’s never a good experience, it’s important to understand that a broken tooth can happen to anyone for a variety of reasons. The important thing in this case is to know how to handle this kind of situation and what to do so it can be resolved as quickly as possible. With this knowledge, you can be sure that the consequences of this problem will be minimal and easy to deal with.
