Cracked Tooth
Overview
A cracked tooth can result from chewing on hard foods, grinding your teeth at night, and can even occur naturally as you age. It’s a common condition and the leading cause of tooth loss in industrialised nations
Causes of a cracked tooth
Teeth crack because of a variety of issues, including:
- pressure from teeth grinding
- fillings so large they weaken the integrity of the tooth
- chewing or biting hard foods, such as ice, nuts, or hard candy
- blows to the mouth, such as might happen with a car accident, sporting injury, fall, or even a fistfight
- abrupt changes in temperature in the mouth — for instance, from eat something extremely hot and then trying to cool your mouth with ice water
- age, with most teeth cracks occurring in people over 50
Types of cracked teeth
Cracks can appear as:
- Craze lines. These are super-small cracks in the enamel (the strong outer covering) of teeth. They cause no pain and don’t require any treatment.
- Fractured cusp. This kind of crack generally occurs around a dental filling. It usually doesn’t affect the pulp of the tooth (the soft centre of the tooth where nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels are) and as a result doesn’t cause much pain.
- Cracks that extend into the gum line. A tooth that has a vertical crack that extends through it but hasn’t yet reached the gum line is generally saveable. However, if the crack extends into the gum line, that tooth may need to be extracted. Prompt treatment offers the best chance of saving the tooth.
- Split tooth. This is a tooth with a crack that travels from its surface to below the gum line. It can actually be separated into two segments. With such an extensive crack, it’s unlikely the entire tooth can be saved, but your dentist may be able to save a portion of it.
- Vertical root fracture. This type of crack begins below the gum line and travels upward. It often doesn’t produce much in the way of symptoms, unless the tooth becomes infected. Chances are the tooth will have to be extracted.
Symptoms of a cracked tooth
Not every cracked tooth will produce symptoms. But when it does, common ones include:
- pain when chewing or biting, especially when you release the bite
- sensitivity to heat, cold, or sweetness
- pain that comes and goes, but is rarely continuous
- swelling of the gum around the affected toot
Diagnosing a cracked tooth
X-rays don’t also reveal a cracked tooth, and not everyone has typical symptoms. To help diagnose a cracked tooth, your dentist will probably do the following:
- Ask about your dental history, such as whether you chew on a lot of hard foods or grind your teeth.
- Make a visual examination. Your doctor may need to use a magnifying lens to see tiny cracks.
- Feel for the crack. Your dentist may run a dental explorer over and around the tooth to see if it “catches” on an edge.
- Use a dental dye, which can make the crack stand out.
- Probe your gums looking for inflammation. This technique is especially helpful in identifying vertical cracks, which can irritate gums.
- X-ray your teeth. While this won’t necessarily reveal the crack, it can point out poor pulp health, which can indicate a crack is present.
- Have you bite down on something. If you have a cracked tooth, you may feel pain when you release your bite.
Treatment for a cracked tooth
Treatment depends on the size of the crack, where it’s located, your symptoms, and whether the crack extends into the gum line. Depending on those factors, your dentist may recommend one of the following:
Bonding
In this procedure, your doctor uses a plastic resin to fill the crack, restoring its look and function.
Crown
A dental crown is a prosthetic device usually made of porcelain or ceramic. It fits over the damaged tooth or caps it.
To fit a crown, your dentist first shaves off some enamel from your tooth to make room for the crown in your mouth. They then make an impression of the tooth, pick out a color that matches your teeth, and send the impression off to a dental lab to make the crown.
This process may take 5 to 7 days. When the crown returns, your dentist fits and cements it over your cracked tooth.
With proper care, a crown can last a lifetime.
Treatment for a cracked tooth
Root canal treatment
When a crack is so extensive it extends into the pulp, your dentist, or a specialist such as an oral surgeon or endodontist, will recommend a root canal treatment to remove damaged pulp and restore some integrity to the tooth. This procedure can prevent the tooth from becoming infected or weakening further.
Extraction
When the structure of the tooth, and the nerves and roots that lie below it, are very damaged, removing the tooth maybe your only option.
Summary
A cracked tooth is a common experience for many. A variety of procedures are available to save the tooth and your appearance.
While a crack can be repaired, a cracked tooth will never be 100 percent healed, unlike a broken bone might be. But prompt treatment offers the best chance of saving your tooth and preventing infection and further damage. And while your mouth may be sore after the treatment, the pain should subside in a few days.
Good dental hygiene, avoiding hard foods, and wearing a mouth guard if you grind your teeth or play contact sports will go far in protecting your smile.
Source: www.healthline.com
