Cracked tooth
Cracked Tooth: A tooth may fracture or break owing to aging, teeth grinding, trauma, and other circumstances and may have no symptoms associated with a fractured tooth. This article will provide you with the cause, signals as well as a treatment guide for 2023.
Let’s get started!
Overview of Cracked Tooth
A broken tooth might be the result of chewing on hard meals, nighttime teeth grinding, or even natural aging. It is the major cause of tooth loss in industrialized nations and a widespread ailment.
Teeth have two components:
- The crown can be seen above the gums.
- The root is located beneath the gums.
Both the crown and the root have several layers:
- Enamel: A hard, white exterior coating.
- Dentin: is the middle tooth layer.
- Pulp: Soft inner tissue containing blood vessels and nerves
Fractured teeth can harm any or all of these levels. The treatment for a fractured tooth depends on the location and severity of the fracture: common causes, canal procedure, endodontic treatment, american association, cuspal coverage, methylene blue
A fractured tooth may be painful or sensitive, while some fractures are symptomless. See a dentist immediately. Receiving treatment sooner enhances the likelihood that a broken tooth can be repaired.
Types of Tooth Fractures
Splits can manifest as:
- Craze lines. These are extremely minute fissures in the enamel (teeth’s protective outer layer). They do not cause discomfort and do not necessitate treatment.
- Cusp fracture. Typically, this type of fissure develops near a tooth filling. It typically does not harm the pulp of the tooth (the soft center of the tooth containing nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels) and so does not cause much discomfort.
- Cracks extending into the gum line: A tooth with a vertical crack that continues through it but has not yet reached the gum line is typically salvageable. However, if the crack extends below the gum line, the tooth may require extraction. The tooth is most likely to be saved if it is treated immediately.
- Teeth fractured: This tooth has a surface-to-root fracture. Actually, it can be divided into two halves. Your dentist may be able to salvage a portion of the tooth, but it’s unlikely the entire tooth can be saved with such a severe crack.
- Vertical root fracture: This form of crack starts below the gum line and progresses upwards. Unless the tooth becomes infected, it frequently does not present many symptoms. The tooth will likely require extraction.
Some Reasons Cause Fractured Tooth
These are the most prevalent causes of tooth fractures:
- Age, with many tooth breaks occurring at age 50 and older.
- Consuming tough items such as sweets, ice, or popcorn seeds via biting.
- Habits, such as chewing gum and ice.
- Large dental fillings or a root canal, both of which weaken the tooth, are tooth-weakening procedures.
- The crushing of teeth (bruxism).
- Trauma, such as falls, sports injuries, bicycle accidents, automobile accidents, and physical assault.
Symptoms of Fractured Tooth Syndrome
Teeth fractures do not usually generate symptoms. When this occurs, the principal symptoms include:
- Pain that fluctuates, especially when chewing.
- Sensitivity to temperature fluctuations and consumption of sweet foods.
- Inflammation surrounding the teeth.
- When biting or chewing, one experiences a toothache.
The teeth in the back of your lower jaw and your upper front teeth are particularly susceptible to fractures (mandibular molars).
Multiple teeth might be fractured by a significant injury or trauma, despite the fact that tooth fractures are common. People with dental caries have an increased risk of fracture, even with less severe trauma.
Ways to Treat for Cracked Tooth
Your dentist may refer you to an endodontist to treat a fractured tooth (a dental specialist who focuses on the dental pulp and root issues). These steps may alleviate symptoms until you can see a dentist:
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth to reduce swelling.
- The best way to clean your teeth is to gargle with salt water.
- To alleviate pain and swelling, use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.
The treatment for a fractured tooth depends on the extent of the injury. Common treatments for cracked teeth include:
- Plastic resin is used to fill the fracture during bonding.
- The damaged tooth is reshaped cosmetically by rounding and polishing the tooth’s rough edges.
- The shattered tooth is fixed with a porcelain or ceramic crown. Commonly used when there is insufficient tooth structure for a veneer.
- Extraction: the whole removal of a tooth Used when the tooth’s root and nerves are severely damaged.
- The removal of infected pulp to avoid future tooth deterioration. Used when the fracture extends into the pulp of the tooth
- A veneer is a thin porcelain or plastic covering placed over the front of the tooth. Used frequently when a substantial percentage of natural teeth remain.
Occasionally, your dentist may advise against fixing a fractured tooth. This is possible if your fracture does not:
- Change your appearance
- Cause pain.
- Extremely deep or extensive, such as a hairline fracture.
Medical Professionals Diagnose Tooth Fractures at Spring Orchid Dental
To diagnose a fractured tooth, our Bassedean dentist will inquire about your symptoms and the possible source of the fracture. They will inquire about any trauma or injuries you have sustained.
For a comprehensive evaluation of your teeth, you must visit a dentist. They will inquire about your dental history as well as whether or not you grind your teeth, eat ice, or consume hard foods.
Following this, your dentist will:
- Determine if your tooth is broken or knocked out (avulsed tooth).
- Request that you bite a stick to determine whether you feel discomfort.
- Examine your teeth for cracks.
- Examine your gums for inflammation, as vertical fractures can cause gum irritation.
Shine a light through your tooth to reveal the fracture (transillumination).
Apply a coloring dye to the tooth in order to view the crack more clearly.
Examine your teeth using an X-ray to detect fractures and related disorders, such as bone loss. Imaging may involve a 3D scan known as a cone beam CT scan, which can reveal bone loss indicative of a fracture.
Utilize specialized instruments to locate the fissure (periodontal probing) by seeing whether the instruments catch on the fissure.
Cost of Treatment
The price will depend on the size of the crack and your location in the country. Greater metropolitan regions typically have greater dental costs.
In general, though, you should anticipate paying the following:
Depending on the complexity, bonding can cost between $100 and $1,000.
- $1000 to $1500 per crown, depending on the material used.
- Root canals cost between $500 and $2,000, depending on the location of the tooth.
- $150 to $250 for an extraction of a tooth.
Please arrange an appointment with our dentist for a pricing estimate specific to your case. You will be informed about your condition and the high-quality options that meet your budget.
FAQs
Depending on your therapy, repairing your fractured tooth could take weeks or months. Your dentist will be able to provide you with a more accurate estimate of the duration of your individual repair. As an example:
Crowns: Occasionally, your dentist can fit a crown in a single appointment, but more frequently, numerous appointments are required.
Dental implants: might take months to place.
A veneer: can be affixed to a tooth, its fabrication typically requires three to four weeks.
With proper treatment, restored teeth can last for years and create no additional complications. However, despite therapy, cracks in teeth can sometimes continue to grow or separate. This could eventually lead to tooth loss.
There is no way to prevent tooth breakage. But excellent dental practices can lower the likelihood of cracked tooth syndrome:
- Avoid chewing hard or frozen meals.
- Maintain healthy teeth and gums.
- If you play sports or grind your teeth at night, your dentist will make you a mouth guard.
- Visit your dentist routinely.
Signs are difficult to identify, and symptoms vary. Chewing may occasionally be painful, particularly when releasing bite force. Heat can be particularly uncomfortable to teeth when it is chilly.
Alternatively, you could be sensitive to sugars without displaying signs of tooth decay. The swelling may be confined to a small region adjacent to the impacted tooth.
Take pain medication if the pain is severe, but ask your physician or pharmacist before taking any medicine.
A cracked tooth cannot heal, but treatment may be able to save it. Repairing a fractured tooth as soon as possible can reduce your chances of further injury and infection.Crown lengthening, broken tooth, dental hygiene, dental crown, surface enamel
Where a segment of tooth has been broken off, here are some steps that can be taken at home:
- Call the dentist.
- Rinse the tooth fragment and the mouth with lukewarm water.
- Apply gauze to the area for ten minutes if there is bleeding.
- Place a cold, damp dishtowel on the cheek to minimize swelling and pain.
- Cover the affected area with over-the-counter dental cement if there is no way to see the dentist immediately.
- Take a topical pain reliever.
