Have you ever cracked a tooth? If you or someone in your family has cracked a tooth, it is important to call our office immediately. Depending upon the damage, we can fix some of the teeth without the need for a root canal or crown.
Teeth are fairly easy to crack, especially if you have enamel problems and have dealt with several root canals and other dental problems. Biting on hard ice, or into candy can cause a cracked tooth. Molars are the most vulnerable to cracks as they absorb force when you are chewing. We can examine the tooth and determine how serious the crack is and what can be done to fix the tooth.
Cracked Tooth- But No Pain?
Quite often some patients do not even know they have cracked a tooth until they one day wake up with an abscessed tooth. There may be little to no pain with a cracked tooth. Normally the pain will begin when a patient drinks cold or hot water or chews directly on the cracked tooth. Biting normally opens the crack and irritates the soft tissue inside the tooth.
Small Cracks in the Tooth
A tooth could have a small crack that could be repaired naturally by brushing with toothpaste containing fluoride. The outer layer of the tooth, called the enamel can end up with a slight crack that doesn’t need to be treated in any way. Minor cracks are common with adult teeth and can be restored with proper oral hygiene.
Treating a Cracked Tooth
A crack in a molar can lead to serious problems if it is not treated correctly. Cracks open up the tooth to bacteria, allowing it to get inside the dentin and infect the pulp of the tooth. If the crack isn’t treated quickly and correctly, a root canal may be the only option available to fix the tooth. Filling material is often used to fix the crack, and it is highly recommended to use a dental crown to protect the tooth.
If you have a cracked tooth, contact David G. Johnson, D.D.S., today to schedule an appointment and protect your teeth!
