Fix Cracked Teeth

Often occurring suddenly and without warning, a cracked tooth can be caused by any number of reasons.  While accidents or trauma are often culprits, a cracked tooth can develop from something as innocuous as biting down on a piece of food.  In addition to possibly being painful or uncomfortable, a cracked tooth can be unsightly and become susceptible to infection if left untreated.

Fortunately, dentists have several methods at their disposal for treating a cracked tooth.  The treatment used is ultimately determined by the location, type, and severity of the crack.  In this article we will discuss the various types of tooth cracks that occur and their typical treatments.

Types of Tooth Cracks and Related Treatment

• Craze Lines:  Very common in adult teeth, craze lines are small cracks that only affect the tooth’s outer enamel.  Because the lines are shallow and do not cause pain, they are typically not an area of concern beyond cosmetic appearances.  As such, craze lines are generally left untreated.
• Fractured Cusp:  Occurs when a piece of the tooth’s chewing surface, often around a filling, breaks off.  Rarely will a fractured cusp damage the tooth pulp and typically does not cause much discomfort.  To protect the tooth, the dentist may place a new filling or crown over the damaged area.
• Cracked Tooth:  A cracked tooth is defined as having a crack that extends vertically in the tooth from the chewing surface toward its root.  In this condition, the tooth has not yet separated into pieces although it is possible the crack could gradually spread.  Because the spread can worsen if left untreated, early action is recommended in order to salvage the tooth.  In cases where the crack extends into the pulp, a root canal procedure may be needed to eliminate any infection before a crown is placed over the cracked tooth.  Should the crack extend below the gumline, the condition is no longer treatable and the affected tooth will have to be extracted.
• Split Tooth:  Generally the result of gradual progression of a crack, a split tooth is characterized by a crack having distinct pieces that can be separated.  It is not possible to save intact a split tooth while the location and severity of the crack will determine if any portion can be salvaged.  Certain cases may necessitate endodontic treatment (root canal) in order to save the tooth.
• Vertical Root Fracture:  Defined as cracks beginning in the tooth root and extending towards the chewing surface, vertical root fractures often display few symptoms or signs and therefore, often go unnoticed for extended periods of time.  Cracks of these kind are frequently discovered when surrounding gum and bone get infected.  Tooth extraction is often needed though endodontic surgery is sometimes warranted if the tooth is able to be saved.

With any cracked tooth, it is always advisable to contact a dentist as soon as possible for evaluation.  Because cracks can get progressively worse and could ultimately lead to infection or tooth loss, prompt treatment is vital to the prospects of salvaging the cracked tooth.

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