Repairing Chipped or Broken Teeth
How Do We Chip or Crack Our Teeth?
The hardest substance the human body produces, tooth enamel nonetheless has a finite capacity to withstand stress. A chip or crack can result from chewing hard candy or ice, biting down with excessive force, sustaining a blow to the face, or grinding the teeth during sleep. Teeth can also be weakened by poor oral hygiene and cavities, which leave them more vulnerable to chipping and cracking.
Superficial chips or cracks that remain confined to the enamel may produce no pain, since the inner layers of the tooth are not exposed. When damage is limited to this outer layer, discomfort may only arise under specific conditions, such as firm biting pressure or temperature changes in the mouth. Some cracks are too fine to be detected without professional examination. Scheduling regular appointments allows Dr. Khatibian to identify such issues at an early stage, before they progress to the point of causing pain.
What Types of Broken or Chipped Teeth Would Dr. Khatibian Recommend Fixing?
Craze lines are superficial cracks confined to the outer enamel layer of a tooth. They occur frequently in adults and are characterized by their minimal depth. Because they do not extend beyond the enamel surface, they are not associated with pain and pose no risk to dental health. While their appearance may be a cosmetic concern for some, they are considered harmless and no treatment is necessary.
When a cusp — one of the pointed projections on a tooth’s chewing surface — develops a fracture, it may weaken to the point where it breaks away on its own or requires removal by a dental professional. Removing the affected cusp typically relieves the associated pain. Because fractured cusps rarely extend into the pulp, root canal treatment is generally not required. Once the cusp has been addressed, restoring the tooth to its normal form may involve placing a crown.
When a tooth develops a crack, that fracture can sometimes travel from the biting surface down through the root. The location of the crack determines whether the pulp becomes affected. Root canal treatment is frequently recommended to address a cracked tooth in these situations.
When a tooth develops a crack that continues to propagate over time, the result can be a complete separation of the tooth into two distinct segments. The severity of this split determines whether the tooth can be preserved in its entirety, and in some cases Dr. Khatibian may be unable to do so. The location and extent of the crack will guide the assessment of whether a portion of the tooth is salvageable through a crown or another restorative approach.
Vertical root fractures originate within the root of a tooth rather than the crown, and because the fracture line is frequently not visible, identifying one requires careful attention to the patient’s reported symptoms. Among the various types of tooth fractures, vertical root fractures are considered particularly difficult to diagnose. Endodontic treatment is a common approach to addressing them. In some cases, a portion of the tooth can be preserved, though extraction is necessary in many instances.
How to Prevent Cracking or Chipping
It is difficult to completely prevent damage to our teeth, but here are a few ideas that Dr. Khatibian suggests to keep it to a minimum:
- Don’t chew on ice, popcorn kernels, pens, hard candy, or other hard objects.
- Don’t clench or grind your teeth.
- If you clench or grind your teeth while sleeping, speak with Dr. Khatibian about getting a retainer or mouthguard.
- Wear a mouthguard when playing contact sports.
If you would like a closer examination of your teeth, give us a call to schedule a consultation. Call us at our Sunnyvale office at (408) 774-1200 or our San Jose office at (408) 300-0767 or send us an email.
