Cracked teeth can be incredibly irritating. From increasing your tooth sensitivity to impacting the appearance of your smile, they can be frustrating to deal with. Even though they can be frustrating, many people still choose to ignore a cracked tooth. But is it safe for your oral health to ignore a cracked tooth?

At David G. Johnson, DDS., we understand how frustrating it can be to deal with a cracked tooth. But, there are many downfalls to ignoring it. If you have recently cracked a tooth and are considering ignoring it, keep reading to learn about why that may be more detrimental to your overall oral health. 

What is a Cracked Tooth?

A cracked tooth, also commonly referred to as a fractured tooth, occurs when a crack appears in your tooth. The size of the crack in your tooth can vary greatly based on the cause. They are most common among young children and older adults, though they are not exclusive to these age groups. There are a variety of ways in which you may crack your tooth, including: 

• Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism
• Physical injuries, such as falls, sports accidents, or car accidents
• Large fillings that weaken the tooth
• Chewing on crunchy substances like nuts, ice, or hard candies
• Abrupt temperature changes in your mouth from hot or cold beverages

Types of Cracked Teeth

There are several common types of cracks that may appear on your teeth. These common cracks include:

• Cracked Tooth: A standard cracked tooth features a crack that runs from the surface of the tooth toward the gum line. However, it stops prior to the gum line. 
• Craze Lines: Craze lines are very small cracks in the enamel of your teeth. These cracks cause no pain and don’t require immediate dental treatment. 
• Split Tooth: A split tooth features a crack that extends from the surface of your tooth to below the gum line. With this type of crack, your tooth is split into two parts. 
• Vertical Root Fracture: Vertical root fractures start below the gum line and travel toward the top edge of your tooth. They may not be irritating unless they become infected. 
• Fractured Cusp: A fractured cusp forms around a dental filling. Though they may be cosmetically irritating, they do not usually cause any pain. 

Signs You Have a Cracked Tooth

Some cracked teeth, like teeth with craze lines or fractured cusps, won’t exhibit any symptoms, which makes them easy to ignore. However, if you have a cracked tooth, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Pain that comes and goes, especially when chewing
• Sensitivity to sweets or especially warm or cold food
• Swelling of the tissue around the tooth
• Lingering toothaches when biting

Can You Ignore a Cracked Tooth? 

With so many different cracks that can occur, you might believe that you can ignore a cracked tooth and carry about with regular activity. However, while you may be able to ignore a cracked tooth that has craze lines, the same cannot be said for other types of cracks. In fact, if you choose to ignore a cracked tooth, it may lead to more painful symptoms and more costly treatment over time. 

Cracked teeth cannot heal themselves, and even if your crack starts small, leaving it untreated can lead to a weakening of the tooth. By seeking treatment, you can protect the tooth before the crack spreads or the tooth breaks. If you ignore a cracked tooth and it becomes weakened, you may become more susceptible to tooth decay. 

As you ignore a cracked tooth and tooth decay begins to set in, you may even require a root canal. Avoiding a root canal may lead to damage spreading to surrounding teeth. Ultimately, if you ignore a cracked tooth, the cost of dental care will only continue to grow, so it is best to address it as soon as possible. 

What to Do If You Crack a Tooth

It is in your best interest to not ignore a cracked tooth if at all possible. If your tooth has cracked, you should seek treatment from a trusted endodontist as soon as possible. Failing to treat the cracked tooth may result in even more damage to the tooth as well as the surrounding teeth. By going to your endodontist, you can prevent damage and treat any irritation as soon as it occurs. 

There are a variety of ways to treat a cracked tooth, ensuring your tooth is strong enough to avoid recurring cracks and damage. In some cases, a root canal may be necessary to help protect the root from damage caused by the initial crack. This will help prevent damage to the pulp from causing more damage to the tooth overall.

It may also be necessary to add dental crowns to the tooth. Dental crowns are a great way to support weakened teeth. They are designed to slide over the top of damaged or weakened teeth. This allows you to maintain the full function of the tooth without exposing it to any additional damage. 

Caring for Your Tooth After Treatment

Following treatment for your cracked tooth, it is important that you treat your mouth with care. Avoid chewing on hard foods, and instead stick with a soft diet of yogurts, potatoes, smoothies, and soups while your mouth heals from treatment. You may also want to take over-the-counter pain medication to help ease any discomfort.

Ensure that you are still brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day to prevent any other forms of damage to your teeth. You should also rinse your mouth at least three times a day with a warm salt water rinse. This will help prevent any infection spread and keep your mouth sanitized between brushing.

Finally, it is essential that you attend all necessary follow-up appointments with your endodontist. At these appointments, they can determine if you are healing appropriately and make recommendations if you are experiencing any discomfort. If you don’t have a follow-up appointment but have questions, feel free to call the office for advice. 

Treatment for Cracked Teeth from an Endodontist You Can Trust

If you don’t want to ignore a cracked tooth anymore, you need to turn to a reliable endodontic team for help. With years of experience helping patients across Northern Utah treat their cracked teeth, our team at David G. Johnson, DDS., is confident that we can do the same for you. From root canals to 3D imaging and so much more, our team can help you achieve your healthiest smile. If you’ve recently received a dental injury and you’re trying to ignore a cracked tooth, don’t put off treatment any longer. Contact our team at our Centerville or Layton location to schedule an appointment today. 

We know how frustrating it can be to have to jump from specialist to specialist to help find a solution to any medical problem, and this can include dental problems. With so many specialists to choose from, how are you supposed to know who to see? 

When you are dealing with dental problems, you may wonder if you should see an endodontist or a dentist to address your concerns. Both care for and seek to improve your dental health, but is there a time when you should see an endodontist?

Our team at David G. Johnson, DDS, wants you to know what the difference between dentists and endodontists so you know when to see each of these dental practitioners. 

What Is A Dentist?

A dentist is a dental professional who specializes in general health and treatment of the teeth, gums, and mouth. They provide a wide variety of services but focus mainly on maintaining the health of your mouth. For many, a dentist is their first point of contact if they suspect they are dealing with a dental problem. Dentists can diagnose problems and suggest treatment plans for these problems, though they may refer you to another practitioner if the problem you are dealing with is more complex and requires specialized knowledge. 

What Is An Endodontist?

An endodontist is a dental professional who is trained to diagnose and treat problems with the dental pulp and root of the tooth. They are experts at performing root canals, a procedure that treats inflamed or infected dental pulp to help prevent tooth rot and abscess formation. This expertise is because of the additional education they receive to become an endodontist. They are also familiar with more complex dental problems, including dental trauma, cracked teeth, and infection spreading beyond the dental pulp and into the root of the tooth and surrounding tissue. 

Should You See An Endodontist Or Dentist?

If you are looking for cleanings and dental exams, you should see a dentist. If you are experiencing pain or sensitivity from your teeth or gums and are uncertain of the cause, you should see a dentist. They will perform an exam and determine the cause of the discomfort. They may also provide you with a treatment plan to improve your oral health. However, they may determine the problem is too complex and suggest seeing a specialist, like an endodontist. 

You should see an endodontist if your dentist recommends it based on their assessment of your teeth. However, you don’t need a dentist’s referral to see an endodontist. In fact, if you experience dental trauma, like losing a tooth in an accident, you should probably schedule with an endodontist as soon as possible. They have the ability to save the tooth and can help you skip unnecessary steps. 

Should You See An Endodontist For A Root Canal?

While you can see your dentist for a root canal procedure, we still recommend that you see an endodontist. We recommend this because your endodontist has to complete specialized training to earn this title and have much more experience dealing with problems such as root canals.  You may also feel more comfortable going to see an endodontist because they perform root canals more regularly than your dentist. 

Because this is the most substantial portion of the treatments your endodontist provides, they have plenty of experience that makes them an expert at the procedure. When you see an endodontist for your root canal, you can also trust that they have all the best tips and advice to make this process as smooth as possible for you. Dental procedures are already very nerve-racking.

By going to see an endodontist, you can take away some of the unnecessary nerves that come with these dental procedures and feel more confident in the process. With all of their experience, your endodontist should do an amazing job of making this process comfortable and have the highest success rate of saving your tooth from unexpected damage or loss. 

See An Endodontist You Can Trust

If you want to see an endodontist, you should look for one with years of experience. Our endodontist, David G. Johnson, DDS, has been practicing endodontics since 1990 and is confident that he can help you through any dental problems, no matter how complex. With plenty of experience and a great team behind him, our practice is ready to serve you. If you have a root canal and would like to schedule an appointment with our team, reach out to us at our Centerville or Layton location today.