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Richard M. Thomas, Jr., DMD, PC
300 Bull Street, Suite 301, Savannah, GA 31401
broken tooth

Help! I Broke My Tooth!

Almost every day we get a call from a patient who has broken a tooth, and generally it means that to save the tooth, we have to place a crown or permanent restoration over it to keep it from breaking further. Sometimes the tooth can't be saved and that is a real bummer!

What causes teeth to break?

Well, there are several factors, one of which we see in almost all tooth fractures. A common contributing factor is silver amalgam fillings - these fillings have the unique property of enlarging as they age. So, there seems to be some outward pressure on the tooth and if someone bites just the right (or wrong) way, you hear that crack!

Bruxism

The second common factor is bruxism - the habit of grinding or clenching the teeth. Many bruxers break teeth that don't even have fillings in them, but they always have a higher percentage of broken teeth than people who don't brux or clench.

If you or someone you know does grind their teeth and are worried about a tooth or some teeth, don't hesitate to Contact Dental Designs of Savannah and we will be glad to check it out for you! Don't wait until it hurts!