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If a tooth has recently begun to twinge or feel slightly uncomfortable, it could be a sign that something is wrong. When teeth are healthy, strong, and problem-free, they should not cause any aches or pains. Any discomfort or pain in a tooth warrants prompt investigation. Delaying treatment can allow a small, easy-to-correct issue to develop into something much more complex and expensive to treat. The sooner you get a diagnosis and treatment, the more likely it is that your tooth can be restored to full function and free of pain or discomfort.
What are the Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth?
Sometimes a cracked tooth causes few, if any, symptoms. Other times, the symptoms will be more noticeable.
For example, you might notice that a tooth feels slightly uncomfortable when you chew, and you could find yourself avoiding using that tooth while eating. Other symptoms include increased tooth sensitivity, especially sensitivity to temperature changes. If you look at the tooth, the gum around it might look swollen and red.
To summarize, some of the warning signs to look out for include:
- Tooth pain that may be intermittent or continuous.
- Sensitivity or pain when eating anything very hot or cold.
- Discomfort or pain when chewing on the tooth.
- Gum tenderness.
- Swollen gum around the tooth.
If you have any of the symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the tooth is cracked, but it can indicate a problem. That might be a cracked tooth, a failing filling, an untreated cavity, or a gum infection.
The only way to find out for sure is to visit your dentist for a diagnosis and treatment if required.
Diagnosing a Cracked Tooth
When you see your dentist, they will ask you about your symptoms and conduct a dental exam. This will likely include Digital dental X-rays and a visual exam for any small signs of cracks or chips in a tooth. If necessary, your dentist may use a high magnification to examine the tooth more closely.
Treating a Cracked Tooth
After examining the tooth, your dentist can discuss their findings with you in detail, including any recommended treatments. Your treatment plan will depend on the extent of the tooth’s damage.
Treating Superficial Cracks
Some cracks in teeth are superficial and affect only the tooth enamel. In this case, no treatment may be required, although your dentist may recommend smoothing the tooth.
If the crack is slightly deeper, dental bonding is one possible option. With this treatment, tooth colored composite resin is applied to the damaged tooth, mending the crack and restoring the tooth nearly invisibly.
Dental bonding is non-invasive and quick, and very inexpensive. You may not require local anaesthetic since little or no tooth preparation is needed.
Deeper cracks in teeth will likely require a more substantial treatment approach, especially if the crack has reached the dental pulp.
Treating Deeper Cracks
Every tooth has a dental pulp that is vital to the tooth as it grows and develops. It consists of connective tissues, blood vessels, and the tooth nerve. When a crack affects the dental pulp, it can irritate it, causing it to become inflamed and painful. There is also the real risk that the dental pulp will become infected, which can lead to a dental abscess or even tooth loss.
In this case, your dentist may strongly recommend root canal therapy as soon as possible. This is a process to remove the infected dental pulp and all tissues extending into your tooth roots.
Once removed, the tooth is disinfected and permanently sealed. Afterward, it is restored with a dental crown.
There is no need to worry about root canal therapy, as it is a routine procedure with a very high success rate. Far from being painful, it should feel no worse than an ordinary filling, although treatment will take a bit longer as it is a much more intricate technique.
Read more: Here’s What to Eat After a Root Canal
Treating Vertical Cracks in a Tooth
Sometimes a crack in a tooth is much deeper and can penetrate right through the tooth, literally slicing it into two halves. If the vertical crack is only in the tooth crown, it may be possible to save the tooth. However, if the vertical crack extends into the tooth root, the tooth may be beyond saving.
What Happens If a Tooth Cannot Be Saved?
Unfortunately, if a tooth has split into two halves, your dentist may recommend removing it entirely. Tooth extraction is always the final option and will only be suggested if your dentist feels there is no viable treatment to save the tooth.
When a tooth needs to be removed, it’s important to consider how you will replace it, preferably before it is extracted.
Several options exist for replacing a missing tooth. Your choice may depend on the location of the tooth, your preferences, your oral health, and your budget.
Options include a temporary one-tooth denture called a flipper. This is not particularly strong and stable, but it can be a useful temporary measure while you decide on a more permanent solution or wait for further treatment.
Another solution is a dental bridge supported by your natural teeth. This treatment involves reshaping the teeth on either side of the gap so they can be covered with dental crowns that will support the replacement tooth, called a pontic, between them.
A tooth-supported dental bridge is strong, stable, and durable, but it may be undesirable to reshape perfectly healthy teeth. Removing tooth structure makes them more prone to future infection and decay, and they need to be strong enough to support the tooth.
A more modern solution is to have a dental implant, where the tooth is replaced with a titanium or zirconia implant, which is a screw that replicates a real tooth root. The screw soon becomes fused in the jawbone, providing strong support for a replacement tooth, which is an implant crown.
The implant crown can be permanently screwed onto the implant, restoring the missing tooth seamlessly. It provides a similar biting and chewing strength to a natural tooth and helps protect the adjacent teeth, avoiding the need to reshape and grind down potentially healthy teeth.
The Sooner You Get a Diagnosis and Treatment, the Better the Outcome
When something is wrong with the tooth, it is important to get a thorough diagnosis and treatment quickly. Even a tiny crack in a tooth can open up when you bite down, enabling infection-causing bacteria to penetrate the tooth and cause problems.
The sooner you get treatment, the more likely it is that your tooth can be saved and fully restored. Our dentists at VITAdent Brooklyn Dental Group are ready to take a look and map out the right next step for you. Call (718) 766-0002 or book online to get your tooth checked before the damage progresses.