How Serious is a Cracked Tooth
A cracked or fractured tooth can be the result of natural aging, tooth grinding, unscheduled trauma, or other factors. You may not have any symptoms of a cracked tooth. Or you could notice sensitivity, swelling, or pain. Your dentist has several options to treat a fracture, depending on the severity of the crack and the specific location.
Are All Cracked Teeth the Same?
Teeth can crack in a variety of unusual ways:
- Cracked tooth- A crack that travels from the biting surface down to the root. Sometimes it can extend below the gum line and into the root. A cracked tooth is not always split open but the soft, inner pulp tissue of the tooth can be damaged.
- Craze lines- Tiny cracks that affect the outer enamel surface of the tooth. They are common among adults and cause no pain. No treatment is needed for craze lines.
- Cracked cusp- The cusp is the pointed edge of the biting surface. If a cusp becomes damaged, the tooth might break. You may feel a sharp pain in the tooth when biting.
- Split tooth- This is often the result of an untreated cracked tooth, splitting into two parts.
* Vertical root fractures- A crack that begins in the root and travels upward to the biting surface.
What Causes a Tooth Crack?
A number of factors can cause a cracked tooth, such as:
- Intense tooth grinding, which subjects your teeth to enormous pressure.
- A large filling that has weakened the structural integrity of the tooth.
- Chewing or biting a hard object, like an ice cube, certain sweets, fruit stones or meat bones.
- A blow or hit to your chin, lower jaw, or mouth.
- Gum disease causing bone loss. This instability will make the tooth more vulnerable to a root fracture.
- Sudden extreme changes in your mouth temperature.
Will You Need to Have Treatment?
It is important to see your dentist as soon as possible to optimize the proper treatment and effective results. If your tooth is not treated, a crack might lead to nerve damage, and then an abscess will develop. The tooth now may need root canal treatment or even an extraction. In severe situations the tooth can even split into two parts. If this happens your dentist can no longer save the tooth, and it will need to be removed.
Will You Lose Your Tooth?
In some situations, the tooth might need to be removed, but not every time. It is still best to seek treatment as soon as possible.
After Your Treatment Will Your Tooth Heal?
Unlike a broken bone in your body, a crack in a tooth will not heal completely. After your treatment, the crack may get worse, and you could still lose the tooth. It is important to get proper treatment because most cracked teeth will function normally for years after correct treatment. Your dentist will recommend the best solution.
Can You Stop Your Teeth from Cracking?
NO, not completely, but there are easy precautions you can take:
- Wear a mouthguard- If you grind or clench your teeth, have a guard made to protect your teeth at night. If you are active in contact sports, wear a personalized mouthguard.
- Unnecessary Pressure- Simply avoid biting or chewing on hard objects.