Most people tend to ignore mild oral health concerns. In comparison to periodontal disease or halitosis, most people assume a cracked tooth isn’t a major oral health concern.
Well, you thought wrong!
A cracked tooth is aligned with the dental emergency category. This means when a tooth is cracked, it is significant and dental advice is required at the earliest opportunity to reduce chances of extraction. Cracks in teeth may be major or minor. No matter the severity, you do not want to take the risk of not getting it seen to.
How Does A Tooth Crack?
A cracked tooth can stem from a number of individual factors, such as;
- Biting down on something hard such as hard or crunchy solids
- Using teeth to open any packaging
- Trauma from physical contact
- Untreated cavities that weaken the tooth
- Teeth grinding during sleep
- General wear and tear
Whether your tooth cracks from an injury or general wear and tear, there are a variety of symptoms you experience. In particular, you’ll experience some erratic pain when eating and speaking. Cracks in teeth can appear in a number of ways.
Types of Crack In Teeth
- A Split Tooth – A crack that travels from the upper surface of the tooth right down to the root towards the gum line. A split tooth general means two-segment cracks. With this type of crack, it is unlikely the tooth can be saved and tooth extraction would be required.
- Crazed Lines – A crazed line is a small visible crack in the enamel. They’re not very visible and do not require any treatment. They will not worsen over time or cause danger symptoms. They’re usually a cosmetic concern.
- Fractured Crisps – A fractured cusp is an incomplete fracture of the tooth that occurs around a dental filling. It is not very painful and will not affect the tooth root or nerve. However, another incident that causes an impact on the tooth may lead to something more serious.
- Vertical Root Fracture – A crack that originates from the gum line and works its way upwards. These usually occur for root canal patients but can get infected. Therefore, will require a dental check-up. If anything, severe, it may need to be extracted.
Should a crack tooth be extracted? All cracks are treatable. However, it requires you to contact the dentist as soon as you feel something isn’t right with a tooth. This isn’t just restricted to a crack. Cracks in teeth are dangerous particularly if you don’t act as soon as something doesn’t feel right inside the mouth.
If you experience one of the following symptoms, it is likely your tooth has cracked and will require emergency treatment.
- Pain when eating, biting and chewing
- Swollen gums in and around the cracked tooth
- The area becomes sensitive with throbbing pains
- Sensitivity when eating hot or cold foods
- Discomfort around the tooth and gums
Summary
Treatment will largely depend on the severity of the tooth. The dentist will be in the best position to advise how the tooth can be saved. Sometimes, a cracked tooth may be too severe and will require extraction to preserve your oral health. If some of the teeth can be saved, root canal treatment may be administered.
If you’re seeking advice on a cracked tooth from your local dentist, Alternatively, contact us here and we’d be happy to help. It may also be useful to read how a dental mouthguard can protect teeth from cracks during physical activity.
