I Fractured(Cracked) My Tooth!
Fracturing or cracking a tooth can happen for a multitude of reasons. Age, grinding of your teeth, trauma, oversized dental fillings or biting hard foods are just a few reasons why this may unfortunately happen. The crack can be small an harmless or other times it may cause your tooth to split or break. Fracturing teeth is more common in older patients and children but may happen to anyone.
Treatment of the fractured tooth depends on the severity if the fracture and where it happened. A broken tooth may feel sensitive or may hurt also some fractures cause no symptoms. The sooner you see our dental team after fracturing your tooth, the higher the chances are of saving that tooth and increasing the odds of repairing the crack rather than risking an extraction later on. Call our dental team right away to get you in today if you are experiencing a crack or fracture in your tooth.
Treatments For A Fractured Tooth
Treatment for a fractured tooth depends on how much damage has occurred to your tooth. The most common treatments are:
- Bonding: Composite bonding material is used to edge round and polishing smoothing out the tooth. This is also a great cosmetically enhancing procedure.
- Crown: A zirconia crown is placed over the fractured tooth as a cap. This is a great way to save the tooth when there is not even tooth structure for a veneer.
- Extraction: Removing the tooth completely. This is usually a last resort treatment and is performed when the root and nerves of your tooth show severe damage. Bone grafting may be placed to seal the gums with enough bone to place a dental implant in the near future and regain your bites full functionally. Dental implants are the best solution for missing teeth.
- Root Canal: The removal of damaged pulp to prevent further tooth weakening. This is necessary to prevent further bacteria destroying neighboring teeth.
- Veneer: A thin layer of porcelain goes over the front of your tooth. A great option when there is enough tooth structure remaining. Dental veneers are also very aesthetically pleasing.
Types Of Tooth Fractures
Our dental will will exam your tooth by checking for inflammation of the gums, crack lines on your tooth, and taking a digital X-ray. The types of fractures may be broken down into these give categories:
- Cracked Tooth: A vertical crack running down the biting surface of your tooth. Sometimes it may extend into your gum line and tooths root.
- Hairline Crack: Small thin cracks that appear on the outer enamel of your tooth. These are typically painless.
- Fractured Cusp: This crack usually happens when a dental filling that is too large to be placed fails, the crack forms around the dental filling. They usually are not painful.
- Split Tooth: The crack of the tooth extends down to the tooths surface below your gum line and splits the tooth into two parts. An extraction will most likely need to be performed to save your gums from infection.
- Vertical Root Fracture: Cracks start from below your tooths gum line and move towards your biting surface. This becomes a problem when your tooth becomes infected. Symptoms then may arise.
Common Questions About Dental Veneers
How Can I Manage A Fractured Tooth At Home Until My Appointment?
It’s recommended you place an ice pack on the outside of your mouth to prevent swelling. Rinse your mouth with salt water and take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling. We can normally get you in the same day but if you are having an emergency over the weekend or late at night, these methods will help ease the pain until we can properly treat you with a permanent resolution.
Can I Prevent Fracturing A Tooth?
You can’t prevent every tooth fracture but you can reduce the odds of it happening to you.
- Avoid chewing hard foods or ice.
- Practice proper oral hygiene by brushing twice daily and flossing daily.
- Schedule annual cleanings and exams with our dental team.
- Wear a nightguard to protect your teeth from grinding at night or if you play sports.
Can A Cracked Tooth Heal?
Cracked or fractured teeth cannot heal but the proper treatment at the right time can save your tooth. Getting your tooth fixed right away lessens the risk of having to loose the tooth and risk getting an infection sooner than latter.
Call Today To Book Your Free Consultation
America’s Bright Smiles is a full-service dental team that brings together all experts delivering the best dental care for all patients in Pompano Beach and the surrounding areas. We pride ourselves in using the latest technology in dental. If you are having an emergency or in search of a new dentist for a cleaning and exam, give us a call today and let us take great care of you.
What Our Patients Say
josh tarterJanuary 4, 2024Best dentist i’ve ever been to! The whole office staff is amazing and the entire process from checking in to the actual cleaning was as smooth as can be. Would recommend to anyone looking for a new dentist office.Dan AlemanDecember 20, 2023WOW I would like to thank my God, who found this place for me I do not have enough time or there is not enough space to say what I really feel I am going to begin with. I am a 62-year-old man retired on Social Security disability. My teeth was very bad my opinion I had low self-esteem because of my teeth I am on a limited income, so I really can’t spend money like that doing my search on Instagram I bumped into this bright smiles office. I called 23 times and hung up because I was afraid to hear how much what to bring but a girl by the name of Dawn kept calling me back and I answered the last time and she spoke to me and I explained to her my problem that I have Humana and she stated give me the number I’ll call you back , she called me back and said Mr. Aleman come in quickly because you have good insurance and we would love to help you I went into the office. Everybody in the office were unbelievably great even the owner who is there they make me feel so welcome. I felt like a millionaire, and they were taking care of me using the money from the insurance. Unbelievable the doctor that took care of me. She was a sweetest sugar. I cannot believe how nice and how professional I was treated. I am Hispanic. I felt like they were my family. Mind you that this office is 3 1/2 hours from me one way going by bus , I was willing to do that six hours traveling going and coming because this dental office was so good to me I recommend this place with my heart and soul. The staff at this office are so understanding and caring all the way up to the owner of the place who was there? He was a very nice young man. His name is Patrick he treated me like a brother. It’s a great feeling when they look at you in the face and smiling you could see that love radiating from every staff member in that office,Cira InfantinoDecember 19, 2023Dawn, Maryanne, and Dr. Andrade were all amazing!! Maryanne gave me the best cleaning!Rodo AndradeDecember 12, 2023Exceptional dental care! Dr. Andrade and the entire team are highly skilled, friendly, and attentive. From the warm welcome at the front desk to the expert and painless treatments, this is the place to go for a healthy, beautiful smile. Impeccably clean, modern facilities, and they genuinely care about your comfort. Couldn't recommend this dental practice more - 5 stars!Karen Gobble-EdgingtonDecember 11, 2023I loved my experience with America’s Bright Smiles, they treated me like family. Everyone had smiles and treated so professionally. My teeth felt and looked great after my appointment. Thank you all and have a Merry Christmas 🎄Marc LittDecember 7, 2023TOP NOTCH customer service from the minute I walked in (Dawn at the desk) to the care and attention I got in "The Chair" from the Professor aka Doc and Mary Ann! Wonderful practice filled with true professionals and I look forward to my return visit.....even tho I don't lol. Nobody likes going to the Dentist but the folks are really great!!!!Giselle GoncalvesDecember 7, 2023Excellent experience once again today , Dawn , Maryann and Dr. Andrade and Eliana were wonderful and very professional and welcoming, painless service and always made to feel welcomed like at home. Great team and grateful to be a patient of such a wonderful office.Scott D. KuntzDecember 5, 2023Very nice and professional staff! I would definitely refer any friends and family!!Sandra SchwartzDecember 1, 2023Very happy so far! You're all very professional and all have lovely personalities! I felt very cared for See you soon Sandy
