Age: Broken teeth occur more often in children and people over 50. Previous dental work: ... Extraction: The tooth may be so badly damaged that the only option left is to remove it.

Teeth can be filled with gold; porcelain; silver amalgam (which consists of mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper); or tooth-colored, plastic, and materials called composite resin fillings.

In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, endodontist Derek T. Peek said he treated twice as many broken teeth this August compared with last year, even though he's treated fewer patients. Endodontists are dentists ...

They can help hide chipped or broken teeth, gaps in tooth spacing, stains that can't be removed, small or misshapen teeth and other imperfections.