Teeth are naturally strong but if they become weakened from decay, they are susceptible to cracks, chips and breaks.
Maintaining good dental care will prolong the lifespan of the teeth. But should a tooth crack or chip, for whatever reason, it is imperative to have it checked by a dentist immediately.
Without immediate treatment there is a very real chance the damage will increase or an infection may set in. Which course of treatment the dentist takes will depend on the severity of the damage. Some of the most common treatments are:
- Dental crowns for chips or small missing pieces
- Root canal treatment if damage is extensive
- Extraction is a last resort and only used when the dentist can find no alternative
Root canal treatment is very successful in treating larger damaged areas of a tooth's surface. But when the break extends below the gumline, an extraction becomes almost inevitable.
Simply ignoring even the smallest of cracks or chips is a foolish gamble as the problem will only worsen over time and the chances of a successful repair will decrease as the condition deteriorates.
More detailed information can be found at https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/should-you-repair-or-replace-that-broken-tooth/.