What Happens if You Crack a Tooth

Cracking a tooth is a dental emergency. If this happens to one of our patients, they should call us at Healthy Smiles Family Dental in Salem unless they also have series facial lacerations, in which case they should go to an emergency room. The good news is that we can usually save cracked teeth, but we thought our patients would be calmer if they knew ahead of time what usually happens.

Our molars distribute bite force over their wide surfaces. Other teeth are likelier to crack or be pushed outward if used for chewing, while molars can withstand incredible force. But they are also the likeliest teeth to crack or chip a cuspid. A patient should swish salt water in their mouth if they have a dental emergency and should cover a broken tooth with orthodontic wax if they have any available. If not, sugar-free gum will do.

The smallest cracks, called craze lines, can be fixed with bonding or covered with a veneer. When a larger part of a tooth chips off, it may be fixable with a partial crown, which would be fitted for with an impression from the patient’s mouth. A crack that goes deep enough to expose pulp will require a root canal to remove potentially infected material, which might be followed by placement of a new crown. Teeth that are cracked at the root will need to be removed and replaced with an implant or partial denture. Regardless, we can treat a patient’s pain and put together the best plan to restore their bite function and the brilliance of their smile.

Dr. Na Xu operates Healthy Smiles Family Dental at 2601 25^th St SE #400, Salem, Oregon, 97302. Visit My Family Dentist Salem or call 503-385-1185.