You’re savoring a delicious handful of sugar-coated peanuts—actually, it’s your second handful, which you almost resisted. But as you bite down, you hear a loud crunch that immediately feels off. Your heart races as your tongue discovers a significant chunk of your upper left molar has fractured, with the piece already lost to the abyss.
While panic might start to set in, there’s good news: your broken tooth can likely continue to function for years with the right care. Teeth are the hardest substances in our bodies, enduring immense pressure daily. Over time, they can develop small cracks, especially if they were filled with metal years ago. The repeated stress of chewing, along with rapid temperature changes from food and drink, can create expanding micro-fractures that weaken the tooth, eventually leading to a break.
Bound To Happen
It’s easy to blame the peanuts, but they were merely the final straw. While some teeth break from a single traumatic event, cumulative stress is often the real culprit. Even something as soft as a peanut butter sandwich could cause a compromised tooth to fracture. Despite this, most broken teeth don’t need to be removed, and many don’t even require a root canal. Initially, you might notice cold sensitivity or a sharp edge, but with prompt care, your tooth can be restored to full function.
Should I Fix It?
Choosing not to treat a broken tooth is an option, but it comes with serious risks. The likelihood of losing the tooth increases significantly without treatment. More of the tooth could break away, or a cavity could form in the exposed area. Each time the tooth experiences trauma, the fragile nerve inside is further strained, increasing the risk of an abscess.
In many cases, fractured teeth may need to be fully restored with a dental crown. However, smaller fractures can often be repaired with an onlay, a more conservative treatment that preserves more of your natural tooth structure. An onlay is a custom-made piece of porcelain that fits perfectly into the damaged area, “laying on” the tooth and restoring its strength without the need to cut away healthy enamel.
Onlays blend seamlessly with your natural enamel, enhancing both function and appearance. If a conservative approach is suitable for your situation, our dental team may recommend an onlay for ultimate restoration. Before you know it, you’ll be confidently enjoying your favorite snacks again.