Can Cracked Tooth Be Saved?

A cracked tooth can be the result of aging, tooth grinding, trauma, or other causes. You could not have obvious symptoms of a cracked tooth. You may have experienced increased sensitivity, some swelling, or even discomfort. Your dentist has the appropriate treatment to treat a cracked tooth, due to both the location and the severity.

A fractured tooth, often called a cracked tooth, occurs when a crack is visible in your tooth. The crack could be tiny and seem harmless, or it might cause the tooth to split and even break.

A cracked tooth is common in children and older adults, but it can still happen to anyone. If you believe you could have a cracked tooth, visit your dentist right away.

What Parts of a Tooth Can Crack?

Your teeth consist of two parts:

  1. The crown- The visible part is completely above your gums.
  2. The root- The part which lies completely beneath your gums.

Both the crown and root are made up of these layers:

  1. Enamel- The tough, strong, white outside surface.
  2. Dentin- The middle layer is directly below the enamel.
  3. Pulp- A soft inner tissue in the center, full of both nerves and blood vessels.

A crack in the tooth can affect any of these layers. The best treatment for your cracked tooth depends on the location and the intensity of the crack.

A cracked tooth may hurt or feel sensitive, yet some cracks might have no symptoms. Pursuing treatment will increase your likelihood of repairing the cracked tooth.

Symptoms and Causes

The most common causes of a cracked tooth are:

  1. Your age, with a cracked tooth occurring quite often over the age of fifty.
  2. Biting hard objects, like ice, hard candy, or popcorn kernels.
  3. Habits, like aggressive gum chewing.
  4. A dental filling or a root canal will weaken the tooth.
  5. Bruxism, or teeth grinding.
  6. Trauma, such as falls, sports injuries, accidents, or physical violence.

Which Teeth are Most Likely to Crack?

Cracks often happen on the upper front teeth and in the teeth at the rear of your lower jaw. People often crack one tooth, but a severe injury or trauma will cause cracks in multiple teeth. If you have cavities, you are at a higher risk of developing a cracked tooth.

What are the Symptoms of Cracked Tooth Syndrome?

The primary symptoms of a cracked tooth include:

  1. Intermittent pain comes and goes.
  2. A toothache while biting or chewing.
  3. An increased sensitivity to change in temperature.
  4. Swelling around the tooth.

Treatment to Save a Cracked Tooth

Treatment for a cracked tooth depends on the type of crack. Treatments include:

  1. Bonding- A plastic resin that fills in the crack.
  2. Cosmetic contouring- The polishing of rough edges of a cracked tooth.
  3. Crown- A ceramic or porcelain cap placed over the cracked tooth. The cap will protect your natural tooth.
  4. Veneer- A thin layer of porcelain added to the front surface of a tooth. This is a viable option if you have an adequate amount of the natural tooth left.
  5. Root canal- Removal of infected pulp when the crack has progressed into the pulp.
  6. Extraction- The complete removal of your tooth from severe damage.

Your dentist may recommend not repairing a cracked tooth. This might happen if the fracture does not:

  1. Negatively impact your appearance or natural smile.
  2. Cause you any discomfort.
  3. Extend deep, such as a thin hairline crack.

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