Cracked Teeth

Picture this: you are eating something like hard candy, and suddenly, you feel something hard inside your mouth. You can not chew it, and a few seconds later, you realize what it might be. You just broke one or more of your teeth.

Not every case is as severe as this, but it is something that can happen at any moment of your life. A cracked tooth is when a line appears in the enamel, which is the outer part of your tooth. This condition is also called a fractured tooth, and you need to get it treated as soon as possible to avoid any complications. Here at Carolina Mountain Endodontics we can help you.

What Causes a Cracked Tooth?

The principal function of your tooth enamel is to be hard and avoid your tooth getting cracked every time you chew on something. Even so, the enamel has limits, and some things can weaken it over time. Some of those things include teeth grinding, chewing on extremely hard foods, sudden changes in the temperature inside your mouth, and trauma to the mouth such as from a car accident. Cracked teeth also happen more frequently in people over 50 years of age. Since the enamel tends to debilitate as you get older, it is more common in people as they age.

Are There Different Types of Cracked Teeth?

There are different types of cracked teeth and depending on the characteristics of the crack, they receive different names such as craze lines, fractured cusp, vertical root fracture, and split tooth. When you have this type of cracked tooth, you have tiny cracks in your teeth. You will probably not feel them since they do not cause any pain. Most of the time, there is no need for treatment if someone has craze lines.

On the other end of the spectrum are split teeth. A split tooth, as the name suggests, is when the tooth has a crack that separates your tooth into two segments. In split tooth cases, it is challenging to save the tooth.

A fractured cusp can happen after you have a dental filling. In most cases, a fractured cusp does not involve the pulp tissue. The pulp is full of nerves, and since this type of cracked tooth does not affect it, you will not feel pain if you have one. A vertical tooth fracture, on the other hand, is when the crack starts in the gum line or even below, and then travels upward. You will not have any symptoms unless the teeth get infected, and generally, we will have to extract your tooth.

What Are the Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth?

Depending on the different types of cracked teeth, someone can feel sudden inexplicable pain or not feel anything at all. Some of the common symptoms can include pain when biting, inflammation of the gums, and sensitivity to temperature changes. If you have any of these symptoms, you need to schedule an appointment with us to avoid complications like a tooth abscess.

Often, we can help restore a treatable cracked tooth with a dental crown or root canal but it is important to act quickly. Call Clyde office at Clyde Office Phone Number (828) 627-1999 or Hendersonville office at Hendersonville Office Phone Number (828) 693-7600 to find out how Carolina Mountain Endodontics can help you!