Cracked Teeth

Cracked Teeth Injury

Cracked teeth demonstrate many symptoms, including pain when chewing, temperature sensitivities, or sharp pain while releasing biting pressure. It is common for pain to come and go, making it difficult to diagnose the cause of discomfort.

Chewing can cause movement of the cracked pieces of your tooth, and the pulp within the tooth becomes irritated. At the same time, when biting pressure is released, the crack can close quickly, resulting in sharp pain. Eventually, the pulp will become damaged, and the tooth consistently hurts, even when you are not chewing. Cracks can lead to infection of the pulp tissue, which can spread to the bone and gum surrounding the problematic tooth.

Types of Cracks in Teeth

Fractured Cusp

When a cusp becomes weakened, a fracture may result. The cusp may break off, which may or may not require removal by a dentist. A fractured cusp rarely damages the pulp, so a root canal is unnecessary unless an insufficient tooth remains to repair with a crown alone. Intentional root canal treatment may be needed to allow your dentist to place a post. Your dentist will usually restore the tooth with a full crown.

Cracked Tooth

This type of crack extends from the tooth's chewing surface and vertically migrates towards the root. In some cases, the crack may extend below the gum line. The crack can extend further into the root. Damage to the pulp is commonplace. In this case, root canal treatment is usually necessary. A cracked tooth that is not treated will worsen, resulting in tooth loss. Therefore, early detection is essential. These cracks can have a more guarded prognosis; extraction is sometimes the better option.

Split Tooth

A split tooth is usually the result of an untreated cracked tooth. A crack with distinct segments can identify it. This type of tooth can never be saved intact. Yet, the position and extent of the problem will dictate whether any portion of the tooth can be saved. Sometimes, endodontic retreatment by the doctors and restoration by your dentist can be used to save a portion of the tooth.

Vertical Root Fracture

A vertical root fracture begins at the root and extends toward the tooth's chewing surface. Unfortunately, a vertical root fracture can show minimal symptoms and go unnoticed. Treatment involves endodontic surgery if a portion of the tooth can be saved by removal of the fractured root. Otherwise, the tooth will have to be extracted.