Broken Tooth

Causes, Risks, and Same-Day Treatment Options

Woman holding mouth in pain A broken tooth is one of the most common dental emergencies, and it can happen at any age. Whether caused by biting something hard, an accidental injury, or long-term wear, a broken tooth can be painful, unsightly, and a risk to your overall oral health. Fortunately, modern dental technology now allows us to repair broken teeth quickly, comfortably, and with lasting results.

What Causes a Broken Tooth?

There are many reasons why teeth break. Some of the most common include:

Biting hard foods such as nuts, ice, or bones.
Accidents and injuries from sports, falls, or other trauma.
Large old fillings that weaken the surrounding tooth structure.
Teeth grinding (bruxism): Over time, excessive pressure can fracture teeth.
Tooth decay: Cavities weaken enamel and make teeth more prone to breaking.

Even small cracks can worsen over time, leading to larger breaks or infections if not treated promptly.

Symptoms of a Broken Tooth

Not all broken teeth cause pain right away, but many do. Common symptoms include:

Sharp or throbbing pain when chewing.
Sensitivity to hot or cold foods.
A jagged edge you can feel with your tongue.
Visible loss of part of the tooth.
Swelling or discomfort in the gums around the tooth.

It’s important to seek dental care immediately, even if the pain subsides. Leaving a broken tooth untreated often leads to infection, root damage, or even tooth loss.

Complications if Left Untreated

A broken tooth is more than a cosmetic problem—it’s a gateway for bacteria to enter the inner layers of the tooth. This can lead to decay, infection, and abscesses. Untreated breaks may also affect chewing, alignment of the bite, and cause further wear to surrounding teeth. Eventually, the tooth may require root canal treatment or extraction, which are more complex and costly than repairing the break early.

Our Same-Day Treatment with CEREC Technology

At our clinic, we take pride in offering state-of-the-art solutions for broken teeth. Our key technology is CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics), a German innovation that allows us to create and fit a custom dental crown in a single visit.

Here’s how it works:

Digital Scan: We take a 3D scan of your tooth using advanced imaging. No messy impressions required.
Design: The crown is digitally designed to match the shape, size, and colour of your natural tooth.
On-Site Milling: A specialised machine crafts the crown from high-quality ceramic right in our clinic.
Placement: The new crown is bonded securely to the broken tooth—all in the same appointment.

This process eliminates the need for temporary crowns or multiple visits. Patients leave our clinic the same day with a tooth that looks, feels, and functions just like their own.

Why CEREC is Different

Proven Technology: We have been using CEREC technology for over 13 years, completing thousands of successful cases.
Time-Saving: Treatment is finished in one appointment instead of two or three.
Durability: CEREC crowns are strong, long-lasting, and resistant to wear.
Aesthetics: The crowns are colour-matched to blend seamlessly with natural teeth.
Comfort: Digital scanning makes the process faster and more comfortable.

Our experience with this technology means patients can be confident they are receiving a treatment that is both advanced and reliable.

Preventing Future Breaks

While accidents cannot always be avoided, many broken teeth are preventable. To reduce the risk:

Avoid chewing hard objects like ice or pens.
Wear a custom-made mouthguard during sports.
Treat bruxism with a night guard or muscle relaxant therapy.
Keep up with regular dental check-ups to catch small cracks early.
Replace old, large fillings before they weaken the tooth further.

With proper care, repaired teeth can last for many years without further problems.

Why Choose Our Clinic?

We understand how stressful it can be to break a tooth. Pain, sensitivity, and worry about appearance can affect daily life immediately. Our philosophy is to provide quick relief with long-term success. By combining same-day technology with years of experience, we ensure that patients not only leave pain-free but also with a natural-looking restoration that lasts.

We also focus on affordable, preventive dentistry. By encouraging regular maintenance visits, we aim to help patients avoid costly emergencies and the discomfort that often comes with them.

If you have a broken tooth, don’t wait until it becomes more painful or complicated. Call us at (09) 217 3115 or book an appointment online. With our same-day CEREC crowns, we can restore your smile quickly, comfortably, and reliably.
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