Cracked teeth
A cracked tooth can cause pain that comes and goes, often a sharp twinge when you bite or let go. Finding the crack early gives the best chance of saving the tooth.
Signs of a cracked tooth
- a sharp pain when you bite, or when you release the bite
- sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet that comes and goes
- pain you cannot pin to one tooth
Types of cracks
Craze lines. Tiny lines in the outer enamel. Common in adults and usually harmless.
Fractured cusp. A pointed part of the chewing surface breaks. It rarely affects the pulp and is usually fixed with a crown.
Cracked tooth. A crack runs from the chewing surface down toward the root. Treated early, often with a root canal and a crown, the tooth can usually be saved.
Split tooth. A crack has separated the tooth into parts. Sometimes part of the tooth can be saved.
Vertical root fracture. A crack that starts in the root. These are hard to see and sometimes need an extraction or surgery on the affected root.
What to do
Call us if you notice any of these signs. The sooner a crack is found, the more treatment options you have.
Questions patients ask
Why is a crack so hard to find?
Many cracks are too fine to see on a regular x-ray, and the pain can move around. The surgical microscope, bite tests and a 3D scan help us pinpoint the tooth and the crack.
Will I lose the tooth?
Not necessarily. It depends on where the crack runs and how far. Cracks found early are often treatable with a crown, or a root canal and a crown.
Related
Relief starts with a call
Call or text, and we will find the soonest time that works. If you are in pain, tell us when you call, and we will do everything we can to see you the same day.
3985 Medina Road, Suite 160, Medina. Mon, Tue, Thu, 7 am to 4 pm.