There are also dental dyes that will highlight the location of the crack. Once the dentist finds the location and extent of a crack or chip, they can determine the best way to treat it.
Cases of extensive damage will often be referred to an endodontist , a specialist in treating tooth roots. Both a dentist and endodontist will do what they can to save the tooth.
I can also be so large that half of the tooth snaps off. How they are treated depends on their size and how much of the tooth is gone. Small chips. If a tiny piece of a tooth chips off, the dentist might be able to simply smooth out the edges so they are not sharp.
If the chip is a little bigger, but only affects the outer enamel layer, he or she will use normal filling material to fill the space. If the chip is in a front tooth that is visible, they will suggest a porcelain or resin composite filling so the material will match the natural tooth color.
Veneers, also called bonding, are another option. Because they are usually just cosmetic, small chips are not typically considered dental emergencies. Large chips. If a larger piece of the tooth breaks off, but the root is not harmed, a crown will usually be recommended. Because the root is intact, a large chip is not usually an emergency.
But if it interferes with chewing or has very sharp edges, the patient will want to visit the dentist sooner rather than later. Chips that damage the root. If a tooth breaks off all the way at its base, a root canal procedure may save the tooth. The pulp, made up of nerves and blood vessels, is removed from the center of the tooth and a crown is placed on top. In the worst cases, the tooth might not be able to be saved and it will need to be pulled.
These types of chips are often painful and may bleed. Emergency treatment is called for. Craze Lines. Craze lines are superficial hairline cracks in the enamel that often come with age.
If they are in a noticeable area of the mouth, however, the dentist can polish out the rough edges. Fractured Cusp. Cusps are the tips or bumps on teeth.
A fractured cusp is a crack on the chewing surface of the tooth. A part of the cusp might break off or it might not. Often these fractures occur around an old filling that is starting to come loose. The dentist will typically replace the filling.
A large cavity can cause fractures and breaks and, if left, will become extremely painful. Tooth cavities can also cause infections along the exposed gum line and pulp root canal, nerves and connective tissue.
In cases such as these, root canal treatment may be necessary. Cracks and breaks can also expose your nerve endings, making the teeth sensitive to hot and cold air and foods. Crowns are also used as part of the treatment for other types of splits and breaks, such as broken cusps, split roots or vertical breaks, split molars, and as a precaution against further cracks.
The early form of periodontal disease — gingivitis — does not generally cause irreversible bone or tissue damage. However, if it is not treated effectively , and if you do not make a renewed commitment to good oral health, you can develop periodontitis. In its advanced form, periodontitis results in fragile teeth that are prone to falling out.
Make no mistake, periodontal disease is a serious condition, and should not be ignored. While these risk factors do not directly cause brittle and fragile teeth, they indirectly contribute to circumstances which can result in teeth that break more easily than they should:.
Multiple and repeated dental procedures in individual teeth or the same area of your mouth or jaw can, ironically, result in weakened teeth over time. A series of cavities in the same area, fillings that have had to be repeated, or cavities and fillings in adjacent teeth can, over time, result in weakness. Weakness attributable to multiple and repeated dental procedures can be addressed by exploring alternative dental treatments — crowns instead of or in addition to fillings, for example.
Some medications indirectly contribute to making your teeth brittle or weak by inhibiting your ability to absorb calcium or to produce saliva. If you lack sufficient saliva in your mouth, you will suffer a loss of enamel which, in turn, makes you vulnerable to tooth decay and weakness that comes with it.
Your own personal habits can also increase the risk that you will suffer brittle or weak teeth. For example, it is possible to brush too often or too hard , which can wear away essential enamel. Over-the-counter whitening toothpaste as opposed to professional-grade whitening toothpaste can wear away your enamel, too.
Also, if you experience sleep bruxism — the habit of clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth as you sleep — you may gradually weaken your teeth and suffer broken teeth and dental work. Acidic and sugary diets and switching rapidly between hot and cold foods and drinks weakens teeth by exposing them to chemicals that degrade their integrity and too-quick cycles of expansion and contraction.
And poor overall nutrition weakens all the tissues of your body, including your teeth. Now that you have a better understanding of some of the causes and risk factors for weak and brittle teeth, some of the ways of managing brittle teeth — or your vulnerability to weak teeth — may be becoming clear.
Since tooth decay advances to the point of periodontal disease is a significant problem, a commitment to daily oral hygiene habits , and to twice-annual teeth cleanings and dental appointments, will help preserve the strength and integrity of your teeth.
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