Whether you developed a cracked tooth from biting on something hard or from years of grinding your teeth, saving your tooth may depend on the type of crack you have and how long you wait to get care. The goal of Dr. Cliff Broschinsky and his team at Avalon Dental in San Ramon, CA
is to do everything possible to help you keep your natural teeth. While there have been many advancements in restorative dental care, nothing beats the strength of your own teeth, and saving them is always preferred.
Thanks to the enamel, your teeth are the strongest things in your body. But that doesn’t mean your teeth aren’t vulnerable to injury and damage. Your enamel may be strong, but injury, bacteria, and years of eating can damage the tough exterior of your teeth, which may lead to a crack.
Some of the most common causes of a cracked tooth include:
Chewing on hard foods, such as ice, hard pits, or the bone in your steak may also cause your teeth to crack.
Like bone fractures, not all tooth cracks are the same. The type of crack you have may determine how your tooth is treated and whether it can be saved. The types of cracks include:
The term “cracked tooth” generally refers to a crack that starts at the top of your tooth and travels toward the root. Getting early treatment for this type of tooth damage is essential for saving your tooth. If the crack travels below your gumline — which may occur if left untreated — saving your tooth may not be possible.
Craze lines refer to cracks that occur in your enamel. These are very common in adults and are more of an aesthetic concern than a health issue.
If you ignore your cracked tooth, it may develop into a split tooth, which means your tooth is in two halves.
The ridges that protrude from the chewing surfaces of your teeth are called cusps. If one breaks, that’s called a cracked cusp.
Cracks in your teeth can also start at the roots, which are more difficult to identify because they don’t cause symptoms. You may not even realize you have a crack until you develop an infection in your gums.
Getting treatment early for a cracked tooth is paramount in saving your tooth. Symptoms that may indicate you have a cracked tooth include:
These symptoms may be indicative of a number of dental issues, including cavities, and shouldn’t be ignored. Whether you suspect a cracked tooth or not, Dr. Broschinsky can help.
Dr. Broschinsky wants nothing more than to make sure you keep all of your teeth, and he has many options to repair cracked teeth. The method he uses may depend on the type of crack you have. For a small crack or chip, he may be able to fill it with plastic resin in a treatment called bonding. He may also reshape your tooth to fix the crack, or he may use a veneer to strengthen your tooth.
If he can’t fix your cracked tooth with a less invasive method, he may be able to reinforce it by covering it with a crown.
While extraction may be the last resort, if he needs to remove your cracked tooth, he has many restorative options that can complete your smile, such as bridges, dentures, and dental implants.
A cracked tooth can be saved, but you need to get treatment early to improve your chances. For an evaluation, call (924) 277-8547 our office to book an appointment, or request a consultation online today.
