Although the teeth are incredibly hard-wearing and strong, they are susceptible to injury and even the most innocuous accident can result in a chip or crack. Fortunately, there are lots of restorative treatments available and in most cases, a chipped, cracked or broken tooth can be saved.

What causes cracked and broken teeth?

There are lots of different possible causes of cracked and broken teeth, from sports injuries and fighting, to biting down on hard sweets, being involved in an accident, falling or even catching your tooth on a glass bottle. Sometimes, injuries are impossible to avoid, but there are some preventative measures, which can be taken; these include wearing a mouth guard for sport, always wearing a seat belt and avoiding eating very hard foods, such as boiled sweets and popcorn kernels.

What can be done for a cracked tooth?

If you’ve cracked or broken your tooth, it’s a good idea to get in touch with your dentist and arrange an appointment as soon as possible. A crack can weaken the tooth and make it vulnerable to further damage and the sooner your dentist can patch up the tooth, the better.

There are various restorative treatments available and the treatment options sually depend on the nature of the injury and the severity of the damage. If the damage is very minor, for example, you have a small chip, composite bonding may be recommended; this simple and painless treatment involves bonding dental composite to the tooth to repair and fill in the chip. If the tooth is damaged more extensively, an inlay, onlay or crown may be used to strengthen and repair the tooth. Inlays and onlays are often considered the middle ground between fillings and crowns; crowns are sometimes known as caps, as they are positioned over the top of the tooth. Restorative treatment not only restores the tooth and repairs the damage; it also helps to protect the teeth from injury in the future.