Cracked/Broken Tooth

Seek immediate treatment if you have a cracked or broken tooth. At Green California Dental Group in Burbank, California, general dentist Varand Kerikorian, DDS, provides same-day diagnosis and treatment of cracked and broken teeth. He can assess the damage during an oral exam and make treatment recommendations. Call the office or use the online booking feature today to make an emergency appointment.

What is a cracked or broken tooth?

A tooth is cracked or broken when you bite down on something hard or get hit in the mouth.

Your permanent teeth are tough, but they aren’t invincible. If you damage a tooth, contact Green California Dental Group right away. Early intervention and treatment can prevent additional damage and restore your smile.

What are the symptoms of a cracked or broken tooth?

The symptoms of a cracked or broken tooth include:

• Pain when biting or chewing
• Sensitivity to temperature changes
• Swelling around your tooth
• Toothache that becomes increasingly worse
• Swollen gums

If your tooth becomes infected, you might also develop fever or chills.

Who is at risk of cracked and broken teeth?

Anyone can have cracked or broken teeth, but several things can increase your risk, including:

• Being 50 or older
• Biting hard foods like popcorn kernels
• Bad habits like nail biting or opening packages with your teeth
• Teeth grinding
• Undergoing extensive dental work

You’re also more likely to have cracked or broken teeth if you play contact sports, like hockey, football, and rugby.

How is a cracked or broken tooth diagnosed?

To diagnose a cracked or broken tooth, your Green California Dental Group provider reviews your dental records and asks about your symptoms. They need to know what you were doing when the injury happened and what your tooth feels like.

Your provider then completes an oral exam. They check to see if your tooth is still in the socket, inspect your tooth for crack lines, and pass light through your tooth to illuminate the fracture. They also order digital X-rays, assessing your gums, tooth roots, and jaw.

After determining the crack’s type, size, and severity, your provider makes treatment recommendations.

How are cracked and broken teeth treated?

Treatment of cracked and broken teeth depends on various things, including your age, dental records, and the severity of the damage. Green California Dental Group might recommend:

• Dental bonding
• Cosmetic contouring
• Dental crown
• Extraction
• Root canal therapy
• Veneers

If the damage is minor, you might not need treatment at all. That’s especially true if the crack in your tooth doesn’t affect your smile’s appearance or cause you pain.

Call Green California Dental Group or use the online booking feature today to receive treatment for a cracked or broken tooth.