Repairing Guides

how to repair cracked molar

by Miss Vicky Schoen Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Most chipped teeth can be repaired either by reattaching the broken piece of tooth enamel or by bonding a tooth-colored filling or crown in place. See your dentist as soon as possible after the injury to treat your chipped tooth and keep it from worsening. How will my cracked tooth be treated? There are many different types of cracked teeth.

Your dentist may recommend a crown, root canal, or tooth extraction. If your dentist thinks a crown is best, a filling material can repair the crack. If the inside of your tooth is damaged, your dentist may suggest a root canal to remove the damaged tissue. The root canal will be recommended if there's an infection.

Full Answer

What to do if your molar tooth breaks?

“If you do want to whiten your teeth and you have sensitive teeth, you should use a sensitive paste in the morning and a whitening toothpaste in the evening. So that you’re not doing both at the same time. And that’s where you really get the benefits of targeted treatments.”

What happens if I leave a broken tooth untreated?

  • A broken tooth can build pressure that causes sensitivity
  • There are chances where you can cut your tongue
  • Severe temperature sensitivity
  • Severe pain

How much does it cost to fix a crack?

The cost of repairing a stress crack is the same as the cost of repairing other types of cracks. Usually you will be looking at about sixty dollars for the first one, and ten to fifteen dollars for any additional cracks.

What happens if half of your tooth breaks off?

  • Start by rinsing your mouth with warm water to help reduce the chance of infection.
  • If you’re in a moderate amount of pain, try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever.
  • If you’re bleeding, try applying pressure to the wound with a bit of gauze for about ten minutes. ...
  • Apply a cold pack to the cheek, gums, or other areas to help reduce swelling.

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Can a cracked molar be fixed?

If the crack has extended into the pulp, the tooth can be treated with a root canal procedure and a crown to protect the crack from spreading. However, if the crack extends below the gum line, it is no longer treatable, and the tooth cannot be saved and will need to be extracted.

How serious is a cracked molar?

Is A Cracked Molar an Emergency? Although cracked molars may not feel like an emergency if you're not in pain, they require urgent treatment. Any cracked tooth has the potential to become an emergency at a moment's notice.

Can you live with a cracked molar?

Sure, you can probably live with a cracked tooth. There may be minimal pain and it might not even show when you smile-but there are many dangers to living with a fractured tooth that could affect your oral health for years to come. A tooth can crack/fracture when there is a weak spot or trauma to the tooth.

Does a broken molar always need a crown?

To Repair A Cracked, Chipped Or Broken Tooth While minor chips can sometimes be repaired with cosmetic treatments like veneers or dental bonding, major tooth damage almost always requires a dental crown. Your crown will cover up and strengthen the tooth, allowing you to eat, speak and smile again.

Does a cracked molar have to be pulled?

If you have a broken tooth, there are usually a few options the dentist can pursue to repair it. However, in the most serious cases, extraction may be necessary.

Should I remove cracked molar?

If a damaged tooth can be restored, whether by filling, root canal, or crown, saving your natural tooth is the best choice. In some cases, however, the damage can be so extensive that the tooth simply cannot be saved. In these circumstances, the best alternative is to have the tooth extracted, or taken out.

Does a cracked tooth need a root canal?

The most common cause of front-tooth fracture is trauma or physical injury. For fractures where the tooth pulp is not affected, a root canal will not be necessary, except if patients show signs of pulpitis (pulp infection). If the pulp gets exposed due to breakage, a root canal will certainly be necessary.

What Does Cracked Molar Mean?

Your molars are especially susceptible to cracks since they take in most of the force during chewing. There might or might not be noticeable symptoms, but make a dental visit immediately anyway. Your dental professional can look at the molar and determine how small or major the crack is. A small fracture may just be a cosmetic problem, however serious fractures do need treatment.

How to tell if a broken tooth is broken?

There may be little or no pain related to a broken tooth. You might only notice pain when eating or when the molar is exposed to hot or cold liquids. Pay attention to where precisely any pain is originating from so you can tell your dentist. Attempt to prevent chewing on the side of your mouth that has the split molar. Biting can open the crack and irritate the soft tissue inside your tooth that contains nerves and capillary.

Can a cracked molar be repaired?

So, can a cracked molar tooth be repaired? Yes. When a crack cuts through more than the enamel, then treatment is needed to prevent problems like an infection or a much deeper fracture. Depending upon how severe a fracture is, your dental professional may suggest a crown, a root canal, or removal of the tooth. In many cases filling material can be used to repair the fracture on you molar and a crown can stop it from becoming worse. If the soft tissue inside your tooth has been affected, then your doctor may suggest a root canal to get rid of damaged tissue. According the American Dental Association, while a root canal is a more extreme treatment than a crown, it can help to conserve your tooth when it comes to a fracture that has actually affected the entire tooth. A last choice is to have actually the molar eliminated. This is done when the tooth can not be conserved due to the fact that the root of the tooth has actually been harmed.

Can a crack in a molar tooth be treated?

If the fracture is minor and has just impacted the solidified external layer of your tooth, called the enamel, then your dental professional might not suggest any treatment. Inning accordance with the American Association of Endodontists, these small fractures are fairly typical with adult teeth.

Can grinding teeth cause fractures?

Mishaps, really tough foods, and even teeth grinding can result in fractures or fractures. See your dentist right now to discover what can be provided for your tooth.

Is root canal better than crown?

According the American Dental Association, while a root canal is a more extreme treatment than a crown, it can help to conserve your tooth when it comes to a fracture that has actually affected the entire tooth. A last choice is to have actually the molar eliminated.

Can a small crack in a tooth be cosmetic?

Your dental professional can look at the molar and determine how small or major the crack is. A small fracture may just be a cosmetic problem, however serious fractures do need treatment. The treatment and outcome for your tooth depends upon the type, location and extent of the fracture.

How do you know if your molar is cracked?

Symptoms of a Cracked Molar. The most common symptoms of a cracked molar include pain when eating or exposure to high or low-temperature foods. There are other signs your tooth may be cracked that include: Food getting caught when eating. Chronic toothache.

What to do if a tooth is cracked below the gum line?

If a tooth is cracked below the gum line or has a vertical root fracture, specific endodontic surgical procedures can help save the tooth, and a root canal and dental crown will be needed. If the fracture is so large the tooth is non-restorable, then an extraction may be necessary. A tooth can then be replaced with a dental bridge or dental implant.

What causes a tooth to break?

Numerous reasons can cause a tooth to break. Common causes include: 1 Biting down into a hard food 2 Large fillings that break down 3 Untreated tooth decay 4 Clenching and grinding while sleeping or due to stress 5 Brittle teeth following a root canal or large filling that needs a dental crown

What is the best treatment for a fractured tooth?

Root canal therapy — sometimes, a tooth fracture is deep enough that requires a root canal to help save your tooth. A dental crown will be necessary to help cover and protect your tooth.

Why do you need a crown for a tooth?

A dental crown will cover the entire tooth to give it more protection from biting and chewing forces. Root canal therapy — sometimes, a tooth fracture is deep enough that requires a root canal to help save your tooth. A dental crown will be necessary to help cover and protect your tooth.

What to do if you can't see your dentist?

If you cannot see your dentist immediately, the best remedies to keep your teeth safe temporarily are to avoid hard and crunchy foods and rinse with a warm salt rinse as an antibacterial precaution. You can take an over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen if needed for pain relief.

What happens when a tooth goes missing?

When the enamel and dentin layers of the tooth that protect the pulp, or nerve, of the tooth go missing, it can cause increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods and spicy or sweet foods.

How does a dentist fix a broken molar?

Your dentist will extract the tooth themselves while using a local anesthetic or another form of sedation dentistry dependent on your specific needs. It’s pretty straightforward, to say the least.

What does it mean when a molar is broken?

A broken molar where no pain is being felt . A broken molar with an exposed nerve. A molar tooth has broken in half. A cracked molar tooth that looks like a hairline fracture. A molar tooth that became chipped for no reason. A molar tooth that broke itself off at the gumline. The molar tooth chipped itself while chewing.

Why did my molar break?

Our everyday lives put us at risk of damaging our molar teeth, whether it’s clear to see or it’s something that you have to think about first before you realize the scope of the situation. Since they’re in the very back of one’s mouth, they are also used for chewing things other teeth might not be able to handle.

How much does a tooth extraction cost?

A simple extraction can run $125-$250 per tooth, but a surgical extraction can run anywhere from $175-$600 per tooth using general anesthesia. For those who decide to go with a root canal, they can expect to pay around $1,000 give or take. While a dental crown for molar restoration runs $800-$1,500+ per crown that’s needed.

What does it mean when your molars chip?

A molar tooth that broke itself off at the gumline. The molar tooth chipped itself while chewing. No matter how minimal your tooth damage may be, always reach out to your local dentist of choice to ensure that you don’t put yourself at risk of making it worse over time.

What happens if you don't treat cavities?

Failure to treat cavities could weaken your molar (s) which means it will break easier.

What happens if you bite into hard candy?

Biting into hard candy can cause your molar to either break or chip.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix A Cracked Molar?

The cost of repairing a cracked molar will vary, depending on which restoration is necessary. The average price of a crown in Ottawa is approximately $1400, depending on what material it’s made from. If the tooth requires endodontic therapy, there could be additional costs of $1000-2000 or more, depending on how many roots the tooth has. But if you wait and the tooth has to be extracted and then replaced with an implant, the costs can easily triple.

Why Does A Molar Crack?

Perhaps your tooth is heavily restored with large, older fillings. As they begin to age and pull away from the tooth, you might simply bite down on something the wrong way and cause a portion of your tooth to crack off.

How Serious Is A Cracked Molar?

Cracked teeth can quickly worsen over a matter of days to weeks, depending on the depth of the crack. Treating it early keeps needs to a minimum. But if you wait days or weeks, a seemingly routine treatment could turn into something more complex.

Does A Cracked Molar Hurt?

In most cases, a cracked tooth hurts when you’re releasing biting pressure off of it. So even if it doesn’t hurt when you bite down (it may for some people) you will feel the pain when the tension is released.

What Happens If A Cracked Tooth Goes Untreated?

Any time you’re dealing with a cracked tooth, it’s like a ticking time bomb. Even if nothing seems to be happening, it’s going to. Untreated cracked teeth will gradually crack even further, ultimately until they reach a point where restoration is impossible.

What is the molar that grinds down food?

You depend on healthy molars (the very back teeth) for grinding down food and proper digestion. From breaking down nutrients for absorption to savouring your favourite steak, your molars bear the brunt of some of the heaviest biting forces in your mouth. It’s estimated that molars have to withstand as much as 171 pounds per square inch (PSI) when your jaws are clenched together. So if you have a cracked molar, it likely won’t be long before you realize there’s a problem.

What to do if a tooth cracks?

If for any reason the crack extends far enough into the tooth that the nerve tissues are compromised, endodontic therapy will be required. Performing a gentle root canal — followed by a crown — will help you avoid removing the tooth entirely.

What to do if you have a broken tooth?

If you have a cracked or broken tooth, you need to see a dentist right away.

What are the tiny cracks in the enamel of the mouth?

Craze lines. These are tiny cracks that only affect the outer enamel. Craze lines are common for adults. They are shallow, cause no pain, and are of no concern beyond the way they look.

What is vertical root fracture?

Vertical root fracture. These cracks begin in the root of the tooth and extend toward the chewing surface. Often, they show minimal signs and symptoms. Many times, they are discovered when the surrounding bone and gum become infected.

How to harden composite tooth?

Our dentist will roughen your tooth and put on a conditioning liquid. Putty will be applied, molded, and smoothed. Then, an ultraviolet light is used to harden the composite. When the tooth bonding has dried, it will be shaped and polished to match the rest of the tooth.

What foods can damage your teeth?

According to the American Dental Association, the top nine foods that damage your teeth are hard candies, ice, citrus, coffee, dried fruit, potato chips, soda, alcohol, and sports drinks. Tooth decay or cavities can also weaken your teeth, causing them to be more likely to break when you are chewing hard food.

Why is the tooth sealed?

Then the tooth is sealed to prevent further infection.

Why do dentists use veneers?

Veneers are covers for a tooth. At our dentist office, we use porcelain veneers because they provide the most attractive and realistic results possible.

Why does my tooth crack?

A fractured or cracked tooth occurs due to age, tooth grinding, trauma and other factors. You might not have any symptoms of a fractured tooth. Or you might notice pain, sensitivity and swelling. Your dentist has several methods to treat a fracture, depending on the crack’s location and severity.

How long does it take to fix a broken tooth?

Repairing your broken tooth may take weeks or months depending on your treatment. Your dentist will give you a better idea of how long your specific repair might take. For instance:

What is a cracked tooth called?

A fractured tooth, often called a cracked tooth or cracked tooth syndrome (CTS), is when a crack appears in your tooth. The crack can sometimes be small and harmless. Other times, it can cause your tooth to break or split.

What is a crack in a tooth?

Cracked tooth: A vertical crack runs from the biting surface of your tooth up to your gum line. Sometimes the crack extends into your gum line and root.

How long do cracked teeth last?

With prompt treatment, repaired teeth can last for years and not cause any other issues. But even with treatment, tooth cracks may sometimes continue to get bigger or split. This can result in tooth loss at some point.

Where do fractures occur?

Fractures occur most often on the upper front teeth and the teeth toward the back of your lower jaw (mandibular molars). Though people commonly fracture one tooth, more severe injury or trauma may fracture multiple teeth. People with dental cavities have a higher risk of fracture, even with less severe trauma.

What is the term for the complete removal of a tooth?

Extraction: Complete removal of your tooth. Used when the root and nerves of your tooth show severe damage.

What to do if your molars break?

When molars break dramatically, leaving little actual tooth behind, you may require a replacement tooth dental implant. This is more of a risk if you have a lot of cavities or fillings in the broken molar, as dentists need some solid tooth material to complete less invasive repairs.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Broken Molar?

The good news is that many dental insurance plans will cover treatment for a broken tooth, though only the best plans will offer generous coverage that includes all the various procedures required to fix a broken molar. Cost also depends heavily on what kind of crack or fracture you have and how the dentist decides to repair it.

How do you know if you have a cracked tooth?

This can be a sign that a part of your molar has chipped away or the fractured area has increased without your notice and it is something that can happen with the mostly invisible teeth at the back of our mouths. A small swollen area that looks like a pimple may show up on your gum near the cracked tooth and you may even be able to see visible pus at the gum. These are all signs that something potentially serious is going on and you should seek emergency dental care as soon as possible.

What happens if you break a molar?

Molars can suffer everything from tiny, unnoticeable hairline cracks below the gum line to dramatic breaks resulting in sudden and immediate destruction of nearly the entire tooth structure, pulp tissue, tooth enamel, ...

What does it feel like to have a broken molar?

On the most basic level, pain is a major issue associated with a broken molar. The pain you experience from a broken tooth can be excruciating, especially if the break results in an exposed nerve. A bad toothache isn’t just a nuisance. It can be a major distraction that impedes your ability to focus, sleep and act like a decent human being. Pain isn’t just an emotion that you can ignore or get over. It’s a physical reality, a part of your body’s survival mechanism. And when it comes to teeth, ignoring the pain now usually just means more severe pain (and bigger dental bills) later.

How much does a porcelain crown cost?

Porcelain crowns are usually the most expensive, and they can cost several thousand dollars without insurance. Metal crowns are cheaper, but also come with their own set of risks and drawbacks, most notably that they’re much more noticeable than a porcelain crown, which usually blends in with the color of your teeth.

Can you break your molars?

Still, not all broken molars are immediately noticeable . As with all of our teeth and bones, though, any cracks, fractures, or breaks are potential medical emergencies waiting to happen. Learn more about the symptoms of a broken molar and how to get it treated so you can avoid potentially serious dental issues.

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