# Son of a . . . I just cracked a tooth! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 14, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615 "2006-08-14T01:58:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/1 "2006-08-14T01:58:13Z")
Damn! That kinda scared the bajeezus out of me. I’m sitting here, surfin’ the Web and munching down a little bowl of popcorn just before I call it a night. I guess a “grannie” snuck into the popped kernels, and I happened to slam down on it with a molar. Now, my next-to-last molar on the left side has half of it’s “sidewall” sheared off. Thankfully, there’s still enough enamel to cover the nerve, but imagine my surprise! :: chomp chomp :: :: chomp chomp :: :: chomp SNAP! :: :eek: :smack: Having broken teeth before, I had suspicions and immediately spit everything out into my hand (I’m a guy, I can do that). Lo and behold, there’s half of my tooth. Damnit, I will never eat Orville Reddenbacher again! Tripler . . . or microwave popcorn for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/2 "2006-08-14T01:59:40Z")
[QUOTE=Tripler] Damn! That kinda scared the bajeezus out of me. I’m sitting here, surfin’ the Web and munching down a little bowl of popcorn just before I call it a night. I guess a “grannie” snuck into the popped kernels, and I happened to slam down on it with a molar. Now, my next-to-last molar on the left side has half of it’s “sidewall” sheared off. Thankfully, there’s still enough enamel to cover the nerve, but imagine my surprise! :: chomp chomp :: :: chomp chomp :: :: chomp SNAP! :: :eek: :smack: Having broken teeth before, I had suspicions and immediately spit everything out into my hand (I’m a guy, I can do that). Lo and behold, there’s half of my tooth. Damnit, I will never eat Orville Reddenbacher again! Tripler . . . or microwave popcorn for that matter. [/QUOTE] I really feel for you. I’ve had that happen. To the dentist with you…tomorrow, or as soon as you can get an appointment. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/3 "2006-08-14T02:12:36Z")
The popcorn had nothing to do with it. Heck, I’ve had a hunk o’ tooth break off while eating bread fer chrissakes. It was its time is all. Sucks gettin’ old, don’t it? ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/4 "2006-08-14T02:12:59Z")
Sorry, pal. That’s a crown for sure, and maybe a root canal while they’re at it. Call the dentist as soon as they open in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/5 "2006-08-14T02:14:26Z")
As have I. It was highly unpleasant, but much better when the dentist smoothed the broken tooth edge. (I didn’t have nearly as much break off as you did.) I was so glad after that, especially since I had a compulsive need to poke poke poke at the broken tooth with my tongue all the time. I don’t recommend it. The ads are all for mushrooms right now. That’s odd but funny. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/6 "2006-08-14T02:15:16Z")
[QUOTE=fishbicycle] Sorry, pal. That’s a crown for sure, and maybe a root canal while they’re at it. Call the dentist as soon as they open in the morning. [/QUOTE] Not necessarily. Like I said, I’ve had several bits break off my teeth, and only one – after several such plus 40-year-old fillings falling out – needed a crown. Depends on the nature of the break. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/7 "2006-08-14T02:19:12Z")
Eeek, I cringed just reading the title. I have some kind of phobia about dental problems. Every time I bite down on something unexpectedly hard and hear a loud CRUNCH!! I worry that I cracked a tooth. Of course, I never have, but…ugh. I don’t even want to think about it. Good luck getting it fixed! ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/8 "2006-08-14T02:22:48Z")
Well, when I snapped my four lower front teeth off from an errant highstick (they snapped right at the gumline), my dentist was able to fashion “temporary replacements” for each one using some putty-like stuff, which then set with a UV lamp. Four years later, I’m still using the “temporary ones” as if they were real. I’m hoping the local guys here can do the same thing. I mean, I can run my tongue on it, and it doesn’t hurt or sting. Maybe a little spackle and primer is all I need. Tripler I ought to come up with a cool story though. Eating popcorn just doesn’t sound manly enough. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/9 "2006-08-14T03:02:24Z")
Broken teeth (shiver) I had a bridge for my two top front teeth snap off at work once. I was going back to the unit from the cafeteria carrying my dinner. I was balancing food in both hands and a soda kind of on top, held in place with my chin. The elevator lurched as the doors opened and my front teeth flew across the hallway. It hurt the anchor teeth and my pride. My charge nurse wanted me to stay and finish my shift. Instead, I called my dentist instead, who was able to meet me at his office at 9:30pm. All he did was super glue them until he could install a new bridge. Two weeks later, I had a beautiful new bridge. two days after that, I was sanding an old door when a nailhead I hadn’t noticed snapped off and hit me… you guessed it, square in the front teeth. I still have that chip. I have to go to the dentist in two weeks for a loose tooth, lower front. Last time I was in it was starting to move. He told me then, that it might tighten up, but at my age, it might not. It didn’t. ☹ I hate going to the dentist. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/10 "2006-08-14T03:02:55Z")
What good is free dental if you don’t take advantage of it once n a while. . . ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/11 "2006-08-14T03:22:58Z")
> [@](#): > > I can run my tongue on it, and it doesn’t hurt or sting. Maybe a little spackle and primer is all I need. I hope so, TRIPLER, but that hasn’t been my experience. I’m seeing a crown in your future, and it ain’t from Burger King. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/12 "2006-08-14T03:24:11Z")
No broken teeth, but I once knocked out an entire filling while eating popcorn. Also, when I had some temporary work in place on my front teeth, I sneezed and caused it to fly across the room. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/13 "2006-08-14T04:13:31Z")
My first molar split right down the center when I ate a handful of pine nuts, which happened to have a piece of shell in it. They pulled the tooth, and had to file down 2 healthy teeth for crowns to make a bridge. Three healthy teeth gone from that one. Another time 2 molars crumbled while snacking on tortilla chips. There wasn’t anything particularly hard to cause it. I’ve ground my teeth in my sleep since I was a child, and over the years, tiny vertical cracks have formed in all my teeth, especially my molars. Eventually they crumble and need crowns. Porcelain isn’t strong enough to survive the nightly grinding, so I have a gold smile, in the back anyway. I have nightmares of spitting out a mouthful of crumbled teeth. Moral of the story for those with bruxism: use a nightguard from the earliest possible age, to protect your teeth. I wish I’d known about them earlier. ---
**Author:** ![motomoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@motomoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motomoon)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/14 "2006-08-14T06:32:05Z")
I’ve had two teeth do that, one wisdom tooth(now with exposed nerves!) and one molar drinking cold liquids in no fun now. If only I wasn’t so poor I’d go to the dentist… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/15 "2006-08-14T06:46:44Z")
Happened to me with potato chips. You know the conglomorous, tuber, mortar that fills in your tooth gaps after a munchdown? It wedged a tooth to shearing in exactly the same way… it was a filled (fillings) tooth too. Chewed potato chips are a weird solution… not quite sure of its state of being…kind of like corn starch in semi-suspense (ion). ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/16 "2006-08-14T10:15:44Z")
I chipped a tooth while dodging a ball of dough that was thrown at me. Yes, pizzeria workplaecs are no laughing matter. I haven’t had the time or resources to get it fixed (it’s been abour 2 years) and it’s a front tooth. It doesn’t hurt, but I’m sure that some day, it’s just gonna give way and decide it’s had enough pain. ---
**Author:** ![BrattiAtti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@BrattiAtti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrattiAtti)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/17 "2006-08-14T13:42:10Z")
I cracked a tooth on a muffin. A feckin’ muffin. It lasted a week before getting infected. It was a tooth I was planning to have pulled, so that just sped up the process. How convenient. :rolleyes: Kudos to my dentist for finding an appointment-between-appointments for me before leaving for his summer vacation. You rock. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/18 "2006-08-14T14:06:02Z")
Been there. 2 to 1 you’ve been grinding your teeth, possibly in your sleep. This started for me after 9/11, & my Dentist commented that stress-based grinding was adding too much to his business around then. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/19 "2006-08-14T22:11:55Z")
Well, I went to the dentist today . . . and she thinks that she can fix it with a porcelain overlay! Apparently, there was another overlay done on that specific tooth before (I’ve had so much work done in there, my teeth are the dental equivalent to Joan Rivers), that it was actually the _tooth_ that snapped an’ broke! And come to find out, the dentist who did that previous overlay is a friend of mine from Minot, that’s now down here at Robins too! So, I got a temporary composite lift of “dental Bond-O” on it, and I go back on the 30th for the permanent fix. Tripler . . . and good dental times were had by all. ---
**Author:** ![Arien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arien)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615/20 "2006-08-14T22:29:25Z")
[QUOTE=wonderlust] I have nightmares of spitting out a mouthful of crumbled teeth. [/QUOTE] I get those dreams, too, even though I haven’t broken a tooth. I do have an implant because one of my teeth never came in, and the first time they tried it, it wiggled around because it didn’t adhere to the bone like it was supposed to. That’s where the dreams started, I think. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/son-of-a-i-just-cracked-a-tooth/368615.md?page=2)