CRACKED TEETH
Cracked Teeth: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Potential Complications
Cracked teeth exhibit a range of symptoms, such as pain during chewing, sensitivity to temperature changes, and intermittent discomfort that can be challenging to pinpoint.
When you chew, the cracked portions of your tooth may shift, causing irritation to the tooth's pulp. Additionally, when you release biting pressure, the crack can close rapidly, resulting in sharp pain. Over time, the pulp can sustain damage, leading to consistent pain even when not chewing. In some cases, cracks may progress to pulp infection, potentially spreading to the surrounding bone and gum tissue.
Different Types of Tooth Cracks
Craze Lines: Superficial, tiny cracks on the enamel surface, often harmless and cosmetic.
Fractured Cusp: A piece of the tooth's chewing surface breaks off, usually not causing much pain. Your dentist will usually restore the tooth with a full crown.
Cracked Tooth: A crack extends from the chewing surface towards the root, potentially causing pain or infection. It is possible for the crack to extend further into the root. Damage to the pulp is commonplace. In this case, root canal treatment is usually necessary. A cracked tooth that is not treated will worsen, resulting in the loss of the tooth. Therefore, early detection is essential.
Split Tooth: When a cracked tooth is divided into distinct segments, it may require extraction or complex treatment.
Vertical Root Fracture: A crack that starts in the root and moves upward, often leading to tooth loss and discomfort. Treatment involves endodontic surgery if a portion of the tooth can be saved by removal of the fractured root. Otherwise, the tooth will have to be extracted.
