Cracked Tooth: Symptoms, Treatments, and Recovery

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Overview

Cracks in teeth can be caused by a number of different behaviours, including grinding your teeth at night as you sleep, chewing on tough meals, or even just becoming older. This issue affects a lot of people and is the most prevalent reason why teeth are lost in industrialised countries.

Reasons, why a tooth could crack Teeth, can crack for a number of different reasons, including the following:

pressure from teeth grinding fillings so large they weaken the integrity of the tooth chewing or biting hard foods, such as ice, nuts, or hard candy blows to the mouth, such as might happen with a car accident, sporting injury, fall, or even a fistfight abrupt changes in temperature in the mouth — for example, from eating something extremely hot and then trying to cool your mouth with ice water age, with most teeth cracks occurring in people over the age of 50 age, with most teeth crack.

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Different types of tooth fractures

Cracks can manifest themselves as:

Craze lines. These are extremely minute fissures in the tooth enamel, which is the tooth’s hard protective covering. They are completely painless and do not call for any kind of therapy.

Broken point of the cusp In most cases, a crack of this nature will appear in the region of a dental filling. As a general rule, it does not impact the pulp of the tooth, which is the soft centre of the tooth that contains nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels, and as a consequence, it does not create a significant amount of pain.

Splits that go all the way down to the gum line. In most cases, a tooth can be saved even if it has a vertical crack that runs through it from top to bottom but hasn’t yet reached the gum line. On the other hand, if the fracture goes below the gum line, the tooth in question could have to be extracted. Receiving treatment as soon as possible increases the likelihood that the tooth can be saved.

Cracked the tooth. This tooth has a crack that extends from the surface of the tooth all the way down to where the gum line is. It is actually possible to divide it into two distinct parts. Because the crack is so severe, it is quite doubtful that the entire tooth can be salvaged; nevertheless, it is possible that your dentist will be able to save a portion of the tooth.

Vertical root fracture. This kind of fracture starts below the gum line and makes its way up the tooth. Unless the tooth becomes infected, it typically does not generate any noticeable symptoms unless it progresses to an infection. There is a good chance that the tooth will have to be removed.

Signs and symptoms of a tooth fracture

There is no guarantee that symptoms will appear in the case of a broken tooth. However, some of the most prevalent explanations are as follows:

sensitivity to heat, cold, or sweetness; pain when chewing or biting, especially when you release the bite; pain that comes and goes, but is rarely continuous; swelling of the gum surrounding the impacted tooth;

The diagnosis of a cracked tooth X-rays do not show a damaged tooth, and not everyone exhibits the typical symptoms of a cracked tooth. Your dentist will probably undertake the following in order to assist in the diagnosis of a broken tooth:

Inquire about your dental history, such as whether you frequently chew on tough foods or grind your teeth at night.

Conduct a thorough visual inspection. In order to see any minute cracks, your physician may need to use a magnifying lens.

Listen carefully for a fracture. In order to determine whether or not the dental explorer “catches” on an edge of the tooth, your dentist may run it over and around the tooth.

Make the fracture more noticeable by using a dental dye, which will highlight the flaw.

Investigate your gums to see if there is any irritation. This method is very beneficial in spotting vertical fissures, which can irritate gums and lead to further problems.

Have your teeth x-rayed? Even though this won’t definitely expose the fracture, it could show that the pulp is in poor health, which is an indicator that a crack is already there.

I want you to put your teeth into something. When you let go of your bite, you could experience pain if you have a chipped or broken tooth.

Dental care for a tooth that has been cracked

The treatment you receive will be determined by the severity of your symptoms, the location of the crack, its size, and whether or not it spreads into the gum line. Your dentist may suggest one of the following treatments, depending on the aforementioned factors:

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Bonding

During this treatment, your doctor will fill the crack with a plastic resin so that it can regain both its appearance and its function.

Crown

Porcelain or ceramic cap, often known as a dental crown, is a type of prosthetic device used in dentistry. It caps or fits over the tooth that has been injured.

In order to fit a crown properly, your dentist will first remove some enamel from your tooth in order to provide space in your mouth for the crown. After that, they will take an imprint of the tooth, choose a shade that is close to the natural colour of your teeth, and then send the impression to a dental lab to have the crown made from it.

It’s possible that this procedure will take a number of weeks. When the crown is ready, your dentist will fit it to cover your broken tooth and then cement it in place.

Because of developments in technology, some dentists are now able to mill a porcelain crown right in the office and then immediately set it on a patient’s tooth.

A crown has the potential to last a lifetime if it is properly maintained.

Root canal system

Your dentist or a specialist such as an oral surgeon or endodontist may propose getting a root canal if the crack in your tooth is so wide that it extends into the pulp. This will allow the damaged pulp to be removed and will restore part of the tooth’s integrity. Through this technique, the tooth can be protected from developing an infection or becoming even more fragile in the future.

Extraction

When the structure of the tooth itself as well as the nerves and roots that reside beneath it are severely damaged, the only alternative that may be left is to have the tooth extracted.

A lack of therapy

A lot of people have tiny fractures that are hardly noticeable in the enamel that covers their teeth. Your physician may recommend doing nothing about these cracks if they don’t cause you any discomfort and don’t affect the way you look.

Problems that can arise from a broken tooth

An infection that can spread to the bone and gums is potentially the most serious problem that can arise from a tooth that has been shattered. The following is a list of symptoms that may indicate that you have a dental infection, often known as a tooth abscess:

pain associated with fever when chewing

symptoms including foul breath, swollen gums, sensitivity to heat and cold, and sensitive glands in the neck

It’s possible that your dentist will try to drain pus from the infection before prescribing an antibiotic to eradicate the bacteria.

Care for oneself and safety measures

Even while you can’t fix a fractured tooth at home, you can take steps to protect yourself from getting one in the first place.

Because teeth that are strong are less likely to shatter, it is important to maintain proper dental care. Brush your teeth at least twice daily, use dental floss at least once per day, and see your dentist at least once every six months for preventative dental treatment.

Chewing on tough meals should be avoided.

If you play contact sports, you should always wear a mouth guard, and if you grind your teeth while you sleep, you should also use a mouth guard.

Rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water to clean it if you fear you may have fractured a tooth, and apply a cool compress to the outside of your cheek to prevent swelling. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB), as well as other anti-inflammatory medications, can help reduce swelling and alleviate discomfort. In addition to that, contact your dentist as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. If you put off treatment, the potential damage to your mouth will be far more severe.

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The price of treatment

The price will change depending on the size of the crack as well as the region of the country in which you live. The cost of dental care is typically more expensive in major metropolitan regions.

On the other hand, in general, you should anticipate paying the following:

Dental bonding can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000, depending on the level of sophistication.

The cost of a crown can range anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 per crown, depending on the material that was utilised to build the crown.

Root canal treatment can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000, depending on the location of the affected tooth.

A tooth extraction might cost between $150 and $250.

Conclusion

Many people have had the unfortunate experience of having a tooth shattered. There are several different operations that can be performed to save both the tooth and your appearance.

Even though a fracture can be fixed, a tooth that has been cracked will never be completely healed, in contrast to a broken bone, which might be. However, getting treatment as soon as possible gives you the best chance of preserving your tooth and avoiding infection as well as subsequent damage. Even though your mouth could hurt following the treatment, the discomfort should go away in a few days at the very latest.

The best way to safeguard your smile is to practise good oral hygiene, stay away from meals that are too tough, and wear a mouth guard if you grind your teeth or participate in sports that involve physical contact.