Many of us will recognise this experience; one moment everything feels perfectly normal, and the next you notice a rough edge while eating, feel a sharp twinge when drinking something cold, or spot a visible crack when looking in the mirror. Sometimes it happens suddenly after biting down on something hard or following a fall or accident. In other cases, patients are surprised to discover a tooth has cracked gradually over time for no apparent reason at all.
Whatever the cause, chipped and cracked teeth are quite common, and while some are largely cosmetic and relatively straightforward to repair, others can be more serious and may cause pain, sensitivity or a risk of infection if left untreated. The important thing is not to ignore the problem, even if the tooth is not especially painful at first.
Years of chewing, grinding, clenching and general wear can gradually weaken your teeth. Fillings can make certain teeth more vulnerable to fractures as they age, and habits such as chewing ice, crunching hard sweets or opening packaging with your teeth can definitely increase the risk further. Please don't do this!
Patients are often surprised that a crack can appear while eating something relatively ordinary. It is not unusual to hear stories involving bread crusts, nuts or a seemingly harmless piece of toast.
A chipped tooth may sound minor, but even small damage can become irritating surprisingly quickly. Sharp edges can catch the tongue or inside of the cheek, and many people become very self-conscious if the chip is visible when they smile. Front teeth are particularly distressing because even a tiny change can feel very noticeable to the person affected.
For smaller chips, composite bonding is an excellent solution that we offer at the Rushey Green Dental Practice. Bonding can be moulded and shaped to the tooth before being hardened. In most cases, it will be a non-invasive procedure. It is also usually a quick procedure too. Once completed, the repair blends naturally with the surrounding tooth enamel, often making it difficult to tell if there was ever damage there at all.
Unlike a chip, which is usually visible, cracks are not always easy to see. Some are tiny surface lines that cause no real concern, while others extend deeper into the tooth and can create pain when biting or sensitivity to hot and cold. They can also increase the risk of decay or infections of the root canals.
The challenge with cracks is that they rarely heal by themselves. Once a tooth has fractured, the goal is usually to stabilise and protect it before the damage worsens. While bonding can be very effective for relatively minor damage, crowns are often a more appropriate long-term solution for weakened teeth because they help distribute biting forces more evenly and reduce the risk of further fracture. If the crack has extended into the nerve of the tooth, root canal treatment may sometimes be needed to remove infection and save the tooth.
Understandably, some patients become anxious when they hear the words ‘root canal’, but modern treatment is usually far more comfortable than its reputation suggests. In reality, the aim is simply to relieve pain and preserve the natural tooth wherever possible.
Unfortunately, there may be occasions where a crack is too severe for the tooth to be saved. Vertical root fractures, for example, can sometimes split the tooth in a way that makes repair impossible. In situations like these, we may need to discuss replacement solutions such as dental implants. We will always try to find the most appropriate solution for the patient, both in terms of quality and cost.
One thing we always encourage patients to avoid is delaying treatment because the tooth ‘doesn’t hurt too much yet’. Cracks have a habit of worsening gradually over time. A small fracture that might have been managed conservatively can often become a much larger problem if left untreated for months.
Some cracked teeth cause only mild sensitivity at first, while others produce intermittent discomfort that patients put down to ‘sensitive teeth’. By the time severe pain develops, the crack may already have progressed considerably.
If you notice rough edges, discomfort when chewing, sensitivity that feels unusual, or visible damage to a tooth, it is always sensible to have it checked.
For patients who grind their teeth at night, a custom mouthguard can make a huge difference in protecting enamel from excessive pressure. Avoiding habits such as chewing hard objects or using teeth as tools can help too, even though many of us do these things absentmindedly from time to time.
Regular dental examinations at our Catford dental clinic also allow us to spot signs of weakening teeth before major fractures occur. Very often, early intervention is more straightforward, less invasive and less expensive than waiting until significant damage develops.
If you are worried about a chipped or cracked tooth, or if something simply does not feel quite right when you bite down, we would always recommend arranging an appointment sooner rather than later. You can do this by giving the Rushey Green Dental Practice a call on 020 8314 5066 and booking an appointment with one of our friendly teams of dentists.
Design By Dental Media
