If you are one of the people who has experienced biting into something seemingly tender (like a burrito, bagel, or even some fruit) and then felt a suddenly sharp corner on one of your teeth, you know how alarming (and annoying!) it can be.
But why would a tooth break when you bite into a piece of bread or some other mundane food?
Chances are, that your tooth was already damaged! In many cases, this can be due to a nighttime clenching and grinding habit. If you clench or grind your teeth at night, you can cause wear and damage in one night that it would take a non-bruxer (teeth grinder) to do in 100 nights. That means your teeth are aging fast.
Of course, damage can also come from years of ice chewing or biting on other hard objects that damage your protective enamel.
I Broke My Tooth. Now What?
When you break a tooth, you can count on our Encinitas dental office to help. Give us a call right away!
If you broke a molar (back tooth), chances are that Dr. Scott Jordon will recommend a dental crown instead of a filling. Your molars are really the powerhouse of your chewing mechanism and absorb most of the force your jaw exerts on a day-to-day basis. Your jaw muscles are powerful and if you have a teeth grinding habit, they are working not only to chew your food, but also throughout the night.
A dental crown completely covers your tooth, unlike a dental filling. Because a crown holds your tooth structure tightly, it will provide more protection. In most cases, a large filling on a molar just isn’t enough and your tooth may become more severely damaged or even split, which feels quite painful and requires an extraction.
Saving your natural tooth is typically the least invasive and least expensive way to address a cracked tooth. In our Encinitas dental office, we offer our patients ceramic crowns that look remarkably natural and are extremely durable. Dr. Jordan’s precision and experience means that your crown will feel comfortable and work well with your natural teeth.