Can A Cracked Tooth Be Saved
A cracked or fractured tooth can happen due to aging, trauma, tooth grinding, or other causes. You may not have any obvious symptoms of a cracked tooth. Or you could have experienced increased sensitivity, swelling, or even pain. Your dentist will have the appropriate solution to treat a cracked tooth, based on both the location and the severity.
A fractured tooth, most often called a cracked tooth, is when a crack appears in your tooth. The crack might be small and harmless, or it might cause your tooth to split and even break.
A cracked tooth is most often found in children and older people, yet it can happen to anyone. If you think you might have a cracked tooth, see your dentist right away.
What Parts of a Tooth can Crack?
Your teeth consist of two parts:
- The crown- The visible part above your gums.
- The root- The part which lies beneath your gums.
Both the crown and root are made up of several layers:
- Enamel- The tough white outside surface.
- Dentin- The middle layer directly beneath the enamel.
- Pulp- A soft inner tissue at the center full of nerves and blood vessels.
Tooth fractures can affect any of these layers. The treatment for a cracked tooth will depend on the location and the severity of the crack.
A cracked tooth can hurt or feel sensitive, although some cracks can have no symptoms. Seeking out treatment will increase your chances of repairing the cracked tooth.
Symptoms and Causes
The most common causes of a cracked tooth are:
- Your age, with a cracked tooth happening more often over the age of 50.
- Biting hard foods, like hard candy, ice, or popcorn kernels.
- Specific habits, like aggressive gum chewing.
- A dental filling or a root canal can both weaken the tooth.
- Teeth grinding, or bruxism.
- Trauma, like falls, sports injuries, accidents, or physical violence.
Which Teeth are Most likely to Crack?
Cracks occur more often on the upper front teeth and the teeth at the rear of your lower jaw. Though people often crack one tooth, a severe injury or trauma can cause cracks in multiple teeth. If you have any cavities, you will be at a higher risk of developing a cracked tooth.
What are the Symptoms of Cracked Tooth Syndrome?
The leading symptoms for a cracked tooth include:
- Intermittent pain that comes and goes.
- A toothache when biting and chewing.
- An increased sensitivity to temperature changes.
- Swelling around the tooth.
Treatment to Save a Cracked Tooth
Treatment for a cracked tooth will depend on the damage. Treatments include:
- Bonding- A plastic resin that fills in the crack.
- Cosmetic contouring- The polishing of the rough edges of a cracked tooth.
- Crown- A ceramic or porcelain cap is placed over the cracked tooth. The cap protects your natural tooth.
- Veneer- A thin layer of porcelain applied to the front surface of a tooth. This is an option if you have a significant amount of the natural tooth left.
- Root canal- Removal of infected pulp when the crack has extended into the pulp.
- Extraction- The removal of your tooth when it has severe damage.
Your dentist could recommend not repairing a cracked tooth. This may happen when your fracture does not:
1. Impact your appearance or smile.
2. Cause you any discomfort.
3. Extending deep, like a thin hairline crack.