Cracked Tooth

While you may think of a cracked or chipped tooth as a problem that is too evident, quite many people have this issue, and they are not aware of it. That’s where it becomes necessary to recognize a tooth crack. You may have to look at the causes and symptoms behind a cracked tooth in this regard.

What may cause a tooth to crack?

A crack may develop in your teeth as a result of some behaviors or incidents. In some cases, a fracture in the tooth can occur due to chewing on hard objects, such as candy, ice, or other non-food items. Some habits may also cause a crack in your tooth or teeth. Those habits include teeth or jaw clenching. Most people do it when they become stressed. An accident or impact can also result in a cracked tooth.

A few signs that indicate a crack in your tooth

Because these cracks may be invisible to the eye, they can be hard to detect. Even a dental x-ray test might not show a hairline crack. So you may wonder if there is a way to determine if there is a crack on your tooth. The best way to do this is to pay attention to localized pain that flares up when you eat or drink something. You will be able to detect the crack by tracking the origin of pain.

A few symptoms of a cracked tooth may include the following.

• Pain when biting or chewing
• Varying sensitivity to cold, hot, or sweetness
• Recurring pain, which doesn’t remain continuous
• Swelling in the gum around the tooth that seems infected

Since dental x-rays may not reveal a crack in your tooth, your dentist would consider the following ways to determine whether or not you have a crack.

• He will ask about your dental habits and whether you chew a lot or grind your teeth.
• He may use a magnifying lens to look for the crack.
• He may run a dental explorer over your teeth find any sharp edge of a broken surface.
• He may use a dental dye to make the crack prominent.
• He may check your gums for inflammation. This issue occurs if the crack is vertical.
• He may consider taking an x-rays test to examine pulp health.
• He may ask you to bite down on something. It will trigger pain, which is a sign of a crack.

Treatment of a cracked tooth

Depending on the size and location of the crack and other symptoms, the dentist will formulate a treatment plan. The following are the treatments for a cracked tooth.

• The first option that your dentist will want to use is dental bonding, which refers to the use of a plastic resin to fill the crack. This option is ideal for small cracks.
• If a large part of your dental structure is damaged, your dentist may choose to give you a dental crown. The dentist will consider this option if your tooth is significantly damaged but can be saved.
• If the crack extends to the inner layers of the tooth and causes infection, your dentist may opt for a root canal procedure, which involves the removal of infected pulp and sealing the tooth. He will secure your tooth further by fixing a dental crown over it.
• In case you have a tiny crack in your tooth, you may not need any treatment at all. You will only have to stay on top of your dental hygiene to prevent tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues.