A huge problem we must consider and be aware of is the broken and cracked teeth, as it affects negatively the deciduous (baby teeth) and permanent teeth of children and adults at different causes. Dr. Hisham Nafie, dentist and founder of Damas Medical Center in the UAE, explains to us more about the causes, treatments and ways to prevent teeth break.
There are several causes that can cause the teeth to break as follows:
– External causes: External injuries that occur to the teeth are most commonly seen in children, and it is likely that the whole tooth will come out due to trauma to the face, and that is specially found in the front upper teeth. In this case, it is very important to save the fallen tooth and head immediately to the dentist, who will put the tooth back in its place and will watch over it for a short period of time to make sure it is completely healed. Also, it is recommended that the fallen tooth is put in a cup of milk or saliva to protect it on the way to the dentist.
2- Internal causes: it affects the elderly and patients suffering from rheumatism because of low percentage of calcium and potassium that are the main components of bones and teeth. Also, Stress is one reason that can lead people to creak (squeak) their teeth continuously and this can cause teeth to break. Advanced stages of teeth decay can also be an important reason, especially if the decay appears between the teeth in places that are not seen by the patient.
Treatment:
The types of treatment vary according to the size of the crack. At an early stage, the patient is advised to use a certain dental protection tool that consists of a light rubber made according to the measured size of the teeth. The patient is asked to wear it at night in case he creaks his teeth, or during practicing some violent sports, or he can inject certain substances such as Botox inside the muscles of the jaws to prevent excessive pressure on the teeth. For advanced stages, the patient might need to undergo the nerve treatment and dental protheses or dental implants for the fallen teeth.
Prevention:
It is necessary that the patient visits the dentist periodically to avoid any problems that might affect the mouth and teeth and treat them earlier before requiring extracting the teeth.
