Category: Tooth Repair

Cracked Tooth Symptoms and Repair 

At our Bethlehem dental office, we often find cracks in our patient’s teeth. A cracked tooth can be a serious problem if left untreated. Inside of each tooth, there are nerves and blood vessels, making it a very sensitive part of our bodies. This is why a cracked tooth can lead to intense pain for some people. Many patients often ask us about cracked tooth symptoms and repair.

Our Bethlehem dental care center is passionate about patient education, and we love to help our patients be more hands-on when it comes to their dental health. Today on the blog, our team discusses everything you need to know about cracked tooth symptoms and repair! Read on to discover what to do if you are in a situation with a cracked tooth.

How Do Teeth Crack?

Teeth can crack when they are both healthy and unhealthy. For example, if your teeth are completely healthy and you get hit in the mouth or get into an accident, your tooth can crack. This doesn’t mean that your teeth are unhealthy – just the force of the blow leads to an unfortunate crack.

However, unhealthy teeth lead to a whole different type of cracking. As you age, your teeth start to weaken over time.  Additionally, if you grind your teeth at night or have poor dental hygiene, your tooth can crack on its own. Over time, even your daily chewing can weaken your teeth. Today, we will be covering all you need to know about cracked tooth symptoms and repair.

Types of Cracked Teeth

There are five different types of cracked teeth. Dr. Uyen Hoang explains them below:

Craze Lines

Craze lines are the most common teeth cracks in adults. For craze lines, think tiny, hairline cracks that are present in the enamel. These are the least serious of all teeth cracks, requiring no real treatment. They will only require dental treatment in the future if the crack extends further. 

Fractured Cusps

When a piece of your tooth breaks off  from the surface of your tooth, this is a fractured cusp. A fractured cusp typically happens with dental fillings, and most likely won’t spread to the gums.

Cracked Teeth

A tooth is considered cracked when there is a vertical crack down to the gum line. The tooth will still remain as one tooth, but could easily split without care. This type of crack requires immediate attention to save the tooth. We recommend contacting a 24 hour emergency dentist in Bethlehem if this occurs. 

Split Teeth

A split tooth is when the crack is so deep that the tooth actually splits in half. This usually is followed by tooth extraction, as this type of crack typically cannot be recovered from. Don’t worry – we have many restorative dentistry options if this occurs.

Vertical Root Fracture

We asked our friends at Green Dental Care, emergency dentist Parker, CO to explain this one. Dr. Green explains that this is when a tooth splits at the actual root of the tooth, leading to an eventual extraction unless your dentist can save a portion of this tooth.

Diagnosing A Cracked Tooth

To officially diagnose a cracked tooth, your Bethlehem dentist will ask you to describe and locate your pain. This can be hard for patients, as sometimes, cracked tooth pain can lead to headaches or other pain instead.

Then, they will have to do a dental exam or x-ray. It is important to be seen right away if you suspect a cracked tooth, so that your dentist can attempt to save your tooth.

Fixing a Cracked Tooth

At Gentle Dental Group, we will do everything in out power to save your tooth. The earlier you are seen once your tooth cracks, the better. The last thing we want is a tooth to split if we could have saved it. 

Cracked teeth are bad for your health because they leave your teeth vulnerable to potentially decay. In addition to the pain that they can cause, many patients opt to fix their cracked teeth right away to keep their smiles fully in-tact. 

There isn’t just one way to prepare a tooth. Our team will evaluate your crack and make a decision depending on the location and type of crack. There’s a variety of solutions that could be offered to you based on the severity. 

Call Your Bethlehem Dentist Today

Do you suspect a cracked tooth? Our team urges you to give us a call immediately. Your oral health is extremely important to your overall health. We would love to help ease your pain if you’re experiencing toothache.