Chipped Teeth: How Do They Happen?

Chipped teeth are a fairly common dental problem that patients can experience. Teeth can fracture for several reasons, depending on the patient and their oral health. Since enamel is the hardest substance in the body, equalling to twice the hardness of bone, it is extremely efficient in protecting our teeth and keeping them healthy. But there are times when trauma to the teeth, cavities or other dental problems could cause the enamel to break down and become less effective.

 

If you are experiencing teeth chipping or have had an accident where your teeth have been chipped, you must see your doctor as soon as possible. Without a full exam of your mouth and teeth, it can be difficult to figure out exactly why your teeth could be chipping. As all of our oral health and teeth are slightly different, your dentist will be able to help you find answers along with the best treatment plan to help with your teeth.

 

What Are the Causes of Chipped Teeth?

 

Injury or Trauma

When a tooth has been hit with extreme force, this can cause the tooth to break. Most simple fractures can be fairly simple to fix, but for more complex breaks, where the nerves of the teeth have been affected, treatment could become more complicated. Most small chips can be fixed with a tooth coloured filling, but some patients could also need additional reinforcement using pins to help keep the filling in place on the cracked tooth.

 

For more complicated fractures involving nerve damage, a root canal would be required before the broken part of the tooth can be fully repaired. The future maintenance of the tooth will be determined by the type of damage caused and the severity of the break. Even a simple fracture and repair could cause problems if the filling in place repeatedly falls off. Other longer-term solutions, including dental veneers and crowns, could be a good option to help stabilise and reinforce tooth fillings.

 

A Fractured Root

Spotting this can be tricky as it isn’t very visible, so you must see your dentist for a clinical examination. A fractured root can have a few different causes, including excessive pressure or trauma, fragile teeth, or even age. Fractured roots commonly affect patients who have already had a chipped tooth or other fractures which can then weaken their teeth.

 

Though the enamel on our teeth is extremely strong, once it’s disrupted, it can then begin to create more problems. Tooth enamel also weakens with age, so older people can experience the effects of fragile teeth which are more likely to break and chip.

 

This can then cause a deeper fracture in the root of the tooth. If you have any suspicion of a fractured root, you must see your dentist. Delaying treatment can be harmful and could result in the loss of your tooth.

 

Teeth Grinding and Clenching

Severe teeth grinding or Bruxism is a habit that can be very destructive to your teeth, causing them to fracture and even become loose. Sleep-related bruxism is an unconscious habit that is often helped by using a fixed appliance or mouth guard to protect your teeth.

 

Long term teeth grinding causes tooth wear, followed by breaks and fractures, due to the strong force applied whilst grinding. Your teeth are likely to keep weakening and breaking down until the habit is under control. Severe muscle and jaw pain is a common side effect when you clench or grind your teeth.

 

Some dentists could also recommend Botox for more severe cases of Bruxism, which can help with muscle relaxation. As the facial and jaw muscles are heavily involved in causing excessive teeth grinding, Botox can help relax the muscles which will help reduce pain.

 

Missing teeth

Our mouths are designed to work together to chew and break down food. This is done by distributing the weight of clenching and chewing amongst the 28-32 teeth. Whether it’s due to trauma or disease, missing teeth can cause extra stress on the teeth that are still in the mouth. Having to withstand the extra pressure and force is when the destruction of the jaw, muscles, teeth and gums begins to show.

 

Though it may seem like a problem that isn’t urgent, if missing teeth are not replaced with a suitable, long-term solution, the surrounding teeth could begin to weaken and crack. Only your dentist will be able to give a full evaluation of the degree of tooth damage and will provide you with your treatment options.

 

Problems with Your Bite

If a patient’s upper and lower teeth are not meeting properly, then once again the weight of chewing and clenching might not be distributed properly amongst the teeth. Due to the extra stress, the affected teeth could begin to weaken and break. This could also occur after an injury or dental treatment, particularly treatment focusing on tooth repair and tooth loss.

 

If your teeth are moving and readjusting, this could also have a negative impact when paired with the uneven distribution of chewing force, causing havoc to your teeth and muscles. Your dentist would be able to perform a bite analysis to identify any issues you may have and provide treatments to correct the misalignment.

Problems After Treatment

It is possible that after completing orthodontic treatment to correct crooked or misaligned teeth, other dental issues could arise. As treatment outcomes vary from person to person, you must have regular check-ups with your orthodontist after completing treatment.

 

As with any medical procedure, your body could react in different ways. Orthodontics are extremely complex and your teeth could require further adjustments or treatment consideration if other problems do arise. If you develop any medical conditions such as TMJ (temporomandibular joints) or teeth grinding after your straightening treatment, please contact your dentist.

 

How Can I Prevent Teeth Chipping and Breaking?

 

Don’t be afraid of your dentist! Regular check-ups are the best way to maintain your oral health and to ease any anxiety you have regarding your teeth. Most dental problems can get worse the longer we put them off. By seeing your dentist regularly and making an appointment if you do begin to experience pain or worrying symptoms, you are more likely to catch problems quickly and resolve them before they become serious.

 

It is important to remember that sports can cause dental issues. Even if it is not a contact sport like skateboarding, squash or cycling, there is still risk involved if you fall on hard surfaces. By meeting with your dentist, you could be provided with a mouthguard to use doing your physical activity to keep your teeth safe and less prone to injury.

 

Mouthguards are also extremely helpful for patients who might have weaker teeth than normal, or teeth that are not fully covered by the lips and are therefore more exposed.

How Can We Help?

 

At Specialist Orthodontist Harley Street, we want to give you your desired smile. Whether you want a better alignment for your teeth, straighten teeth that are crooked, or even experience the difference that contemporary forms of technology and techniques can offer you, we are here to help. With over 30 years of experience, our specialists can provide the highest quality of care, giving you your desired results and a beautiful smile. Contact us today to find out how we can help.