A broken tooth can be the result of many things, such as getting hit in the face while playing a contact sport. The severity of a broken tooth determines if it counts as a dental emergency. Minor breaks that only affect the outer layer of a tooth can wait a few weeks for treatment, but a broken tooth that leads to heavy bleeding in the area requires immediate dental care.
A broken tooth is one of the most common issues that dentists deal with, and most people will break a tooth at some point in their lives. Here are common ways that a tooth can be broken.
Tooth decay is primarily caused by acids in the mouth eating away at the surface of the patient's tooth. These acids are excreted by microorganisms that live in the mouth after they consume leftover food particles on teeth. The damage starts as small holes that form on the outer surface of teeth, known as cavities. If treatment is not administered, cavities will expand until they leave the teeth structurally compromised. At that point, it is only a matter of time before a chunk of the tooth falls off.
A tooth can become broken as a result of facial trauma. This can occur during a fall, slip, vehicle accident, or hard contact during physical activities. A broken tooth caused by trauma might be accompanied by severe bleeding. This is an indication that urgent dental care is needed. Such injuries can also lead to the damaged tooth becoming loose.
At times, it only takes biting into hard foods to lose a piece of a tooth. Teeth that have been already weakened by other issues, like tooth decay, are more likely to break while chewing. Dentists often recommend avoiding hard foods to prevent such issues.
Habits like teeth grinding can lead to a piece of a tooth falling off. Teeth grinding typically occurs during sleep and can lead to teeth being exposed to extreme bite forces. As a result, teeth become structurally weakened and worn down. Some might even break while sleeping.
Procedures that dentists use to treat patients with broken teeth include:
Are you tired of a broken tooth affecting the appearance of your smile? The Coal City Dental team is here to help. Call or visit our Coal City clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.
Request an appointment here: https://www.coalcitydental.com or call Coal City Dental at (815) 634-6046 for an appointment in our Coal City office.
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