Cracking a tooth is more common than most people realize. It can happen when chewing on hard objects such as ice, nuts, and hard candy. An accident, such as a blow to the mouth can also cause a tooth to fracture. Bruxing, or grinding tooth surfaces together as a result of stress, can also wear teeth down to the point of fracturing.
A fractured tooth leaves less tooth enamel on the surface of the tooth and opens the tooth up to be sensitive to hot and cold sensations. Cracked teeth can be painful and may lead to further oral health concerns.
Symptoms of a fractured tooth vary depending on the tooth and the person. Sometimes a person with a fractured tooth may experience:
- Sharp pain when biting down that disappears shortly after
- Occasional, but not constant, pain
- Pain when eating or drinking
- No pain at all
- Hot/cold Sensitivity
- Sensitivity to sweet, sour, or sticky foods
The crack in the tooth may be invisible to the eye and may be hard to find on traditional dental X-rays. Being able to tell your dentist exactly what is going on may be invaluable to correct diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment includes filling the crack with the same material used to fill cavities, placing a crown over the tooth, root canal treatment (if the pulp is exposed), or tooth extraction if the tooth is cracked severely and cannot be saved. If not fixed when the crack is small, fractured teeth may lead to more extensive dental treatment. Regular dental checkups as well as calling your dentist if you think a tooth may be fractured is imperative to keeping your smile healthy.
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
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