A cracked tooth can be extremely painful, and it’s essential to take the necessary steps to make sure that your oral health is not compromised. While it can be alarming to realise that you have a cracked tooth, there are steps you can take to ensure that the issue is addressed properly. Let’s break down what causes a cracked tooth, how it’s treated, and how you can prevent one in the future.
What Parts Of a Tooth Can Crack?
A cracked tooth can be an unpleasant surprise. You take good care of your dental health, and they’re still vulnerable to sudden or unseen damage. Our teeth are composed of several different parts, and each can suffer cracks in different ways depending on the cause and severity of the problem.
Enamel
The enamel, which is the outermost layer, can experience fissures, chips, and gouges when it’s subjected to a hard impact.
Dentin
The inner dentin layer is more prone to fractures caused by acid erosion or extreme temperature changes.
Root
RootThe root is most likely to crack if too much force has been applied when biting down on something hard. This kind of crack makes chewing incredibly painful and often requires a root canal procedure from a dentist to treat it properly.
Taking good care of your oral health starts with proper education and understanding what kinds of injuries they’re most vulnerable towards so that you can do your best to avoid putting them in danger!
Types of Tooth Fractures
Tooth fractures can be a serious concern, as they have the potential to cause pain and damage to your teeth. There are several types of tooth fractures that can occur, ranging from minor chipping of the surface area to more severe, caused by trauma or decay.
Although minor chips may not usually require treatment, more extensive fractures can lead to costly dental work being necessary. The most common types of fractures include:
Cracked tooth
For those with cracks that extend from the chewing surface of their tooth but don’t quite divide it into two pieces, there is hope! With proper care and attention, these incomplete fractures can be saved and repaired.
If a crack in your teeth is left untreated, irreversible damage to the pulp can occur, and you may require root canal treatment or tooth extraction. Due to the location, severity, and complexity of the break, long-term success with cracked teeth treatments is hard to predict. To ensure that your pearly whites don’t get lost forever, it’s essential that you seek immediate attention!
Craze lines
Craze lines may not be classified as fractures, but they are the most inconspicuous type of tooth cracks. Generally occurring in adults, these minuscule hairline cracks manifest on your enamel layer without penetrating your gum line. In many cases, craze lines don’t necessitate medical treatment as it is merely an aesthetic concern.
Craze lines are typically painless but can turn into a threat to your oral health if they become worse and penetrate the dentin of teeth. Unfortunately, specific behaviours, such as an uneven bite, teeth grinding, biting nails, or chewing ice, could all add pressure on the enamel, which may cause craze lines.
Determining whether the crack is confined within just the enamel might be difficult for most; however, our dentist will assess both signs and symptoms before performing tests that allow them to diagnose this condition correctly.
Fractured cusp
A fractured cusp is a break on the chewing surface of a tooth, which typically occurs in teeth with large dental fillings. It can reach as far up to the gum line or cause severe damage to its soft tissue and pulp, which contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues, yet it does not usually cause any pain.
In some cases, root canal treatment could be necessary to save your tooth if the decay has reached its pulp. On the other hand, more often, a new filling or crown will do just fine, allowing you to retain your affected tooth!
Split tooth
When a crack progresses from the outside to the core of a tooth, it is known as a split tooth. In such cases, repair may not be feasible due to its severity and usually result in tooth loss.
For multi-rooted molar teeth, it is often possible to preserve some of the tooth structure by extracting the affected side and performing a root canal on the remaining section, followed by crowning it.
Vertical root fractures
A vertical root fracture is a serious condition that usually affects teeth with previous root canal treatments. It starts at the base of the tooth and extends upwards towards its chewing surface.
What Causes Cracked Teeth?
The most common cause of a cracked tooth is biting down on something hard with enough force, which leads to tooth fracture. This could be from chewing on hard candy or ice cubes, eating overly crunchy foods, such as chips or grinding your teeth.
Other causes of cracked teeth include clenching your jaw often (such as when stress levels are high), ageing, and weakened enamel due to gum disease or decay. Trauma from injuries can also cause cracked teeth.
Cracked Tooth Syndrome
A cracked tooth is a serious dental issue that requires prompt attention. Cracked tooth syndrome (CTS) is the term used to describe a variety of cracking patterns within a single tooth, which may cause varying levels of pain and discomfort.
Although CTS can range in severity, it is essential to seek treatment right away because even small cracks can worsen over time and lead to more severe damage. Let’s take a look at what causes cracked tooth syndrome and how it can be treated.
Cracked Tooth Symptoms
Tooth cracks may appear in a variety of ways, ranging from barely visible to a clear feathery line running through the enamel. It is not always easy to recognise the signs of a cracked tooth: pain when biting or when the area is tapped, irritation of the tongue, soreness around the jaw area, sensitivity to hot and cold, and visible fractures.
If you’re going through any of these symptoms, it is essential to seek professional dental care right away, as cracked teeth can quickly worsen if left untreated. When caught early enough, there are various treatments available that can repair and restore strength to your tooth without any discomfort.
Cracked Tooth Diagnosis
Proper diagnosis of cracked teeth is essential, as a crack may occur in several different ways, and the available treatments vary depending on the severity of the crack.
Reliable assessment is necessary to accurately diagnose and treat cracked teeth effectively.
During an appointment, your dentist can use special diagnostic tools, such as X-rays, to determine your dental history and the extent and type of crack.
With this level of insight and expertise, you can trust your dentist to guide you through the next steps, from addressing pain and evaluating treatment options.
Treatment for a Cracked Tooth
Depending on where the cracks are located in your tooth and how severe they are, there are several potential treatments available for cracked tooth syndrome.
Bonding
Bonding is a minimally invasive procedure where your dentist will use a composite resin material to fill in and seal the cracks, restoring the tooth’s strength.
Veneers
Veneers are thin porcelain layers that are placed on top of the cracked tooth to protect it from further damage.
Root Canal Treatment
If the crack has reached the inner layers of your tooth, root canal therapy may be necessary to clear out any infected material and restore strength to the tooth.
Crowns
If a large portion of enamel is gone, your dentist can place a piece of porcelain or ceramic cap over the broken tooth to protect it from further damage.
Tooth extraction
In cases of severe damage, the tooth may need to be extracted.
Dental filling
In cases of small cracks, your dentist may be able to fix the tooth with a filling.
Preventing Cracked Teeth
The best way to prevent cracked teeth is to practise good oral hygiene and take steps to strengthen your tooth enamel. Here are a few tips for preventing cracked teeth:
- Avoid chewing hard foods like candy or ice cubes, as they can put unnecessary strain on your teeth.
- Visit your dentist regularly for checkups and to monitor any existing fillings or crowns.
- If you grind your teeth, consult your dentist about getting a nightguard to protect them.
- Quit smoking, as it can weaken tooth enamel and make you more prone to cracking.
- If you clench your jaw, practise relaxation techniques to reduce stress and the tension in your jaw muscles.
Taking care of your dental health is essential for maintaining good oral health, and it’s important to seek professional help right away if you suspect that you have a cracked tooth. By following these steps and understanding the causes and treatments of a cracked tooth, you can be sure that your dental health stays in top shape.
Conclusion
A cracked tooth can be an alarming experience, but luckily there are treatments available that will help restore your dental health back to normal! It’s important that if you suspect that you have a cracked tooth, you reach out right away so we can assess the extent of the damage and recommend treatment accordingly.
At Maroondah Dental Care, we have the experience and knowledge to help repair your tooth quickly and efficiently. With our help, you won’t have to worry about a cracked tooth disrupting your everyday life. Contact us today for a consultation.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Sources
Cracked teeth
https://www.teeth.org.au/cracked-teeth
Dental injuries – Knocked out, chipped or cracked teeth
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/dental-injuries-tooth-loss
Cracked teeth Syndrome
http://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/cracked-tooth-syndrome/
Cracked Teeth: A Review of the Literature
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3870147/
Cracked tooth diagnosis and treatment: An alternative paradigm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4439863/