Tooth Cracks: Causes, Complications, and Treatment
Tooth Cracks
Tooth cracks occur when some thing damages the teeth, inflicting a small fracture in it. The crack may be small sufficient that it would not affect your teeth, however from time to time, your enamel can destroy into pieces or break up. If the teeth is severely cracked, it’s miles considered a dental emergency.
Tooth cracks often arise in the top the front enamel and the molars inside the decrease jaw (decrease jaw molars).
Causes of Tooth Cracks
Tooth cracks can arise due to several reasons, inclusive of:
- Biting nails or using tooth to open packing containers.
- Large fillings which have weakened the tooth.
- Trauma or accidents, including sports injuries or falls.
- Eating difficult foods like ice, tough sweet, or nuts.
- Grinding tooth or excessive pressure (bruxism).
- Sudden temperature adjustments within the mouth (eating something warm right after something bloodless).
- Weak tooth structure because of decay or preceding treatments.
- Aging, as teeth cracks growth in people over the age of 50.
Types of Tooth Cracks
There are one-of-a-kind kinds of enamel cracks, as follows:
- Craze Lines
Small cracks that are restricted to the enamel layer of the teeth.
Typically painless and do now not require treatment.
- Superficial Cracks
Affect most effective the outer layer (enamel) and do now not cause ache.
Can be detected by using shining a mild on the teeth surface; the mild will disappear in the region of the cracks.
- Deep Cracks
Extend to deeper layers like the dentin and reason mild pain.
Can normally be treated with composite resin or beauty fillings.
- Vertical Cracks
Extend from the teeth surface to the basis and normally do no longer go past the gum line, making them simpler to deal with.
If the crack extends to the gum line, the teeth can also want to be extracted.
- Split Tooth
The crack extends from the floor down to below the gum line and may break up the teeth into two elements.
The dentist might not be able to shop the complete teeth but is probably capable of save a part of it.
- Root Cracks
Begin at the root and make bigger upward towards the crown.
Often do not produce many signs until the enamel will become infected; extraction may be essential in such cases.
Symptoms and Problems Caused with the aid of Cracks:
Not all teeth cracks produce signs, but once they do, the most not unusual ones are:
- Pain whilst chewing, particularly whilst releasing the chunk (returning to the resting position).
- Swelling of the gums around the affected tooth.
- Tooth sensitivity to hot or bloodless drinks, or sugary foods.
- Intermittent pain, which is not often consistent.
Examination and Diagnosis of Cracked Teeth
X-rays do not reveal cracks in enamel, and signs by myself aren’t definitive evidence of cracks. To help diagnose cracked teeth, your dentist would possibly do the subsequent:
- Ask approximately your conduct, such as chewing hard foods or grinding your tooth.
- If you have got a broken tooth, you may sense pain when freeing your bite.
- The dentist can also use a magnifying glass to peer small cracks.
- The dentist might run a dental explorer over and around the tooth to peer if it “catches” on the threshold.
- Use a dental dye, that could make the crack greater visible.
- Examine the gums for irritation, that’s specially beneficial in identifying vertical cracks that could cause gum sickness.
- Although X-rays might not monitor the crack itself, they can indicate poor pulp fitness, which might also recommend a crack.
Best Ways to Treat Cracked Teeth
The suitable remedy is chosen based totally on the dimensions, location, signs and symptoms of the crack, and whether it extends to the gum line.
Depending on those elements, your dentist can also suggest one of the following procedures:
- Bonding:
In this technique, the dentist makes use of a plastic resin to fill the crack and restore the enamel’s shape and feature.
This approach is used for minor cracks. - Dental Crown:
A dental crown is positioned over the broken teeth to cowl it, protect it, and restore its function and look.
Dental crowns are frequently used for severe cracks that have prolonged to the enamel pulp.
To vicinity a crown, the dentist first documents down the enamel to make room for the crown.
Then, they take an impression of the tooth and pick a coloration that fits your herbal teeth.
The affect is despatched to a dental lab to make the crown, that could take some weeks.
Once the crown is ready, the dentist will match and secure it onto the damaged tooth. - Root Canal Treatment:
When the crack is very extensive and extends to the pulp, the dentist or endodontist might also advocate a root canal treatment to cast off the broken pulp and repair some integrity to the tooth.
This technique can save you the teeth from becoming inflamed or similarly weakened. - Tooth Extraction:
When the shape of the enamel, its nerves, and the roots under are too broken, casting off the teeth may be your handiest alternative.
The missing enamel can then get replaced with a dental implant or a dental bridge. - No Treatment:
Many human beings have minor cracks in their tooth teeth.
If these cracks do not have an effect on the appearance of the enamel and do no longer reason pain, the dentist may additionally propose leaving them untreated.
Preventing Tooth Cracks:
To prevent teeth cracks, comply with these preventive measures:
- Maintain Strong Teeth:
Strong tooth are less likely to crack, so ensure you exercise precise dental hygiene.
Brush twice every day, floss as soon as every day, and visit your dentist each six months for preventive care. - Avoid Hard Foods:
Do no longer chew tough foods or use your tooth as gear to open cans or bottles. - Wear a Mouthguard:
Always wear a mouthguard in case you have interaction in touch sports.
Use a night time shield even as sound asleep if you grind your teeth. - Immediate Action:
If you suspect you have got cracked a tooth, rinse your mouth with heat water to clean it, and follow a chilly compress to the out of doors of your cheek to save you swelling.
Over-the-counter ache relievers like ibuprofen can assist lessen swelling and pain.
Schedule an appointment together with your dentist as soon as feasible. Delaying treatment places your oral health at more threat.
Complications of Broken Teeth
Infection is the most enormous worry of broken tooth, that can spread to the bones and gums.
Some symptoms of a dental infection (also known as a dental abscess) encompass:
- Swelling of the gums.
- Pain while chewing.
- Fever.
- Bad breath.
- Sensitivity to warmness and bloodless.
- Swelling of the lymph nodes within the neck.
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As You can also read more about:
Root Canal Treatment: When Is It Necessary?
What Should You Do in a Dental Emergency?
February Newsletter
Orthodontic
Gum Health : Key to a Healthy Smile
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