Oh no, Is it a cracked tooth?
A cracked tooth is actually a fracture. Signs of a cracked tooth: sudden pain right after you stop biting or when a tooth is exposed to hot or cold temperatures. Often times, the pain comes and goes, and you and your dentist may have a hard time figuring out which tooth is causing the problem.
A cracked tooth is pretty common. It can happen from:
- Chewing on hard objects or foods like ice, nuts or hard candy.
- Wear and tear and multiple fillings over time on a tooth.
- A blow to the mouth.
- Tooth grinding or clenching.
The good news? These teeth can often be restored to relieve symptoms and prevent further damage. Teeth aren’t like bone fractures. They don’t heal by themselves. Most require some treatment, ranging from minor adjustments of the bite and a restoration, to root canals, crowns and unfortunately sometimes even extraction. The key to successful treatment of a cracked tooth is early detection and treatment.
Tooth fractures are often due to large fillings or multiple
Once a diagnosis has been made, a dentist may:
- Adjust the bite to relieve pressure on the tooth and provide temporary relief.
- Perform procedures such as a temporary filling or placement of an orthodontic band around the tooth, as a temporary measure until symptoms resolve.
- Perform a root canal if the crack is deep.
- Opt for a more permanent restoration (if the discomfort has been eliminated), like a filling or crown.
It is good to know that not every line that looks like a crack
Cracked teeth. American Association of Endodontists. http://www.aae.org/patients/symptoms/cracked-teeth.aspx. Accessed September 2017.
Do You Have a Cracked Tooth? Colgate Oral Care Center http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/cracked-tooth syndrome/article/