Are you worried that you suffer from a cracked tooth? Do you
know that endodontic treatment could save your cracked tooth?
Before your symptoms worsen, visit an endodontist to see if your
tooth can be saved. Endodontists are specialists at diagnosing your
symptoms and saving your teeth.
Our smiles are built to last. In fact, tooth enamel — the outer
surface of our teeth — is the hardest substance in the human body,
stronger even than our bones. That tooth enamel can withstand a lot
of wear and tear. But as we live longer, and expose our teeth to
stresses like clenching, grinding or chewing on hard objects, we
can put our smiles at risk. If you think you have a cracked tooth,
it's important to seek treatment quickly, before the problem gets
worse.
How do I know if my tooth is cracked?
Cracked
teeth show a variety of symptoms, including erratic pain when
chewing, possibly with release of biting pressure, or pain when
your tooth is exposed to temperature extremes. In many cases, the
pain may come and go, and your dentist may have difficulty locating
which tooth is causing the discomfort.
Why does a cracked tooth hurt?
To understand why a cracked tooth hurts, it helps to know something
about the anatomy of the tooth. Inside the tooth, under the white
enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is the inner soft tissue
called the pulp. The pulp contains the tooth's nerves and blood
vessels.
When the outer hard tissues of the tooth are cracked, chewing can cause movement of the pieces, and the pulp can become irritated. Eventually, the pulp will become damaged to the point that it can no longer heal itself. The tooth will not only hurt when chewing but may also become sensitive to temperature extremes. In time, a cracked tooth may begin to hurt all by itself. Extensive cracks can lead to infection of the pulp tissue, which can spread to the bone and gum surrounding the tooth.
What if my tooth is chipped?
Chipped
teeth account for the majority of dental injuries. Most chipped
teeth can be repaired either by reattaching the broken piece of
tooth enamel or by bonding a tooth-colored filling or crown in
place. See your dentist as soon as possible after the injury to
treat your chipped tooth and keep it from worsening.
How will my cracked tooth be treated?
There are many different types of cracked teeth. The treatment and outcome for your tooth depends on the type, location and extent of the crack.
Craze Lines
Craze lines are tiny cracks that affect only the outer enamel.
These cracks are extremely common in adult teeth. Craze lines are
very shallow, cause no pain, and are of no concern beyond
appearances.
Fractured Cusp
When a
piece of a tooth’s chewing surface breaks off, often around a
filling, it’s called a fractured cusp. A fractured cusp rarely
damages the pulp, and usually doesn’t cause much pain. Your dentist
can place a new filling or crown over the damaged tooth to protect
it.
If you've cracked a tooth and breathing through your mouth or drinking cold fluids is painful, bite on clean, moist gauze or cloth to help relieve symptoms until reaching your dentist’s office. Never use topical oral pain medications (such as Anbesol®) or ointments, or place aspirin on the affected areas to eliminate pain symptoms.
Cracked Tooth
A cracked
tooth means a crack extends from the chewing surface of your tooth
vertically toward the root. The tooth is not yet separated into
pieces, though the crack may gradually spread. Early diagnosis is
important in order to save the tooth. If the crack has extended
into the pulp, the tooth can be treated with a root canal
procedure and a crown to protect the crack from spreading.
However, if the crack extends below the gum line, it is no longer treatable, and the tooth cannot be saved and will need to be extracted. That’s why early treatment is so important. A cracked tooth that is not treated will progressively worsen, eventually resulting in the loss of the tooth. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential in saving these teeth.
Split Tooth
A split
tooth is often the result of the long-term progression of a cracked
tooth. The split tooth is identified by a crack with distinct
segments that can be separated. A split tooth cannot be saved
intact. The position and extent of the crack, however, will
determine whether any portion of the tooth can be saved. In some
cases, endodontic treatment may be performed to save a
portion of the tooth.
Vertical Root Fracture
Vertical
root fractures are cracks that begin in the root of the tooth and
extend toward the chewing surface. They often show minimal signs
and symptoms and may therefore go unnoticed for some time. Vertical
root fractures are often discovered when the surrounding bone and
gum become infected. Treatment may involve extraction of the tooth.
However, endodontic surgery is sometimes appropriate if a
tooth can be saved by removal of the fractured portion.
After treatment for a cracked tooth, will my tooth completely heal?
Unlike a broken bone, the fracture in a cracked tooth will not heal. In spite of treatment, some cracks may continue to progress and separate, resulting in loss of the tooth. Placement of a crown on a cracked tooth provides maximum protection but does not guarantee success in all cases.
The treatment you receive for your cracked tooth is important because it will relieve pain and reduce the likelihood that the crack will worsen. Once treated, most cracked teeth continue to function and provide years of comfortable chewing. Talk to your endodontist about your particular diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
What can I do to prevent my teeth from cracking?
While cracked teeth are not completely preventable, you can take some steps to make your teeth less susceptible to cracks.
- Don't chew on hard objects such as ice, unpopped popcorn kernels or pens.
- Don't clench or grind your teeth.
- If you clench or grind your teeth while you sleep, talk to your dentist about getting a retainer or other mouthguard to protect your teeth.
- Wear a mouthguard or protective mask when playing contact sports.
Source: AAE.org