Treatment Options for Cracked Teeth
Cracked teeth account for the majority of dental injuries, and most can be repaired either by reattaching the broken piece of tooth enamel or by bonding a tooth-colored filling or crown in place, but treatment should be sought as quickly as possible.
When a tooth cracks, the exact location of pain can often be difficult for your dentist to locate. Cracked teeth result from tooth injury, dental trauma and general wear and tear like chewing hard foods, and clenching or grinding your teeth. Cracked tooth symptoms may range from erratic pain when chewing to sudden pain when encountering hot or cold temperatures. Often cracked tooth pain may come and go over many months, and tooth cracks may not be visible on a routine dental exam or x-ray.
Check out how we address cracked tooth repairs and treatments in this educational video.
When a tooth cracks or chips, bacteria commonly enters the space, irritating the inside of the tooth. Over time, pain when biting or chewing will occur more frequently. Both the pulp and bone can become infected. Timeliness matters; the sooner your endodontist can locate and fix a cracked tooth, the better the outcome.
Advanced x-ray technology known as Cone Beam Computed Tomography – or more simply as 3D CBCT imaging – can aid in early cracked tooth diagnosis, often prior to any performed treatment. This state-of-the-art, low exposure x-ray system allows us to maximize outcome predictability and success rates for the best possible care of your cracked tooth.
Addressing Your Cracked Teeth Needs
Different Types of Tooth Cracks
- Craze Line – Tiny surface cracks along the outside of teeth that cause cosmetic issues instead of structural damage.
- Split Tooth – The crack in a tooth goes from the surface of a tooth all the way past the gumline and can be separated into two segments. Often only part of the tooth can be salvaged.
- Vertical Root Fracture – The tooth crack begins beneath the gum line and goes upwards without causing much pain unless infected. This crack likely needs to be extracted.
- Fractured Cusp – These typically form around a dental filling. Since they do not infect the tooth pulp, fractured cusps do not typically cause much pain.
- Tooth Cracks Extending Into The Gumline – If a crack doesn’t quite reach the gum line, it may be salvageable. When it does go that far, it often needs to be extracted.
Symptoms of Cracked Teeth
- Sharp pain shoots out when biting down in a certain area.
- Pain that eases when the pressure has been removed could indicate a cracked tooth.
- Localized sensitivity to temperatures, sticky foods, or sugary foods often means cracks in your tooth.
- You remember biting down on something hard or thinking you heard a crack even if you can’t visibly see one.
Addressing Your Cracked Teeth Needs
Unlike a broken bone, a fractured or cracked tooth will not heal. Cracked tooth pain just keeps getting worse until it gets fixed. Root canal treatment addresses inflammation and infection internally and placing a crown on a cracked tooth provides maximal protection of the external surface, reducing the likelihood that the crack will worsen or become reinfected. Once treated, most cracked tooth treatments continue to function flawlessly and provide years of comfortable chewing.
Treating your cracked teeth doesn’t have to be painful. With all our endodontic root canal treatments and cracked tooth repairs, our team will get to know you by assessing your specific needs before recommending treatment options.
We also offer the latest relaxation methods including sedation dentistry to make your treatment pain-free and comfortable. Fixing a cracked tooth doesn’t need to be scary! We establish our methods using the latest evidence-based research to provide both efficiency and effectiveness.
Have any additional questions?
Give us a call.
Navigating a cracked tooth repair can be overwhelming, and we understand you may have questions. At Endospec, we’re not just a dental practice, we’re your partners in dental health. Our dedicated team is ready and waiting to answer your queries, discuss your options, and set you on the path to recovery. Don’t hesitate, give us a call today. We’re here to help you every step of the way.
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Cracked Tooth? Timeliness Matters – We Are Here to Help
If you experience these symptoms or suspect a cracked tooth, it’s best to see one of our endodontists as soon as possible to achieve the best outcome.
Contact us today to schedule your endodontic evaluation at our office in Colorado Springs or Pueblo.
