Cracked Tooth Treatments
A cracked tooth should be addressed and treated as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the tooth and the patient’s health. If not, possible results could lead to infections, illness, or removal/teeth falling out. If the patient starts to feel any sensitivity to hot or cold, coming and going pain, pain when chewing or biting, or if there is already swelling of the gums, then treatment is needed as soon as possible.
How is a cracked tooth diagnosed?
In some cases, not everyone has the same symptoms of a cracked tooth, so the dentist will take additional steps to help diagnose the probable cause of a cracked tooth. Possible ways for a dentist to diagnose someone can be done by:
- Questioning dental history: The dentist would ask questions based on daily activity that could impact the tooth, like if the patient grinds their teeth at night, if they chew on a lot of hard foods, or if they eat sweets or foods that rot away at the teeth more easily.
- Visual examination: The dentist uses a special magnifying glass and other tools to look into the mouth and at the teeth better than the naked eye.
- Feeling for the crack: The dentist may also use a special tool called a dental explorer to move around the surface of the tooth to see if it catches on the edge of a possible crack.
- Dental dye: A vibrant colored dye is put into the mouth, almost like a rinse, and sticks to the insides of the cracks, making them stand out.
- Gum probing: The dentist uses a special tool to probe around the gums to look for any signs of inflammation. This method is commonly useful in identifying vertical cracks, which have a history of irritating the gums.
- Dental X-ray: This method doesn’t always reveal a crack, but it does help identify any areas with poor pulp health, which can also indicate if there is a crack in the tooth. These areas are often seen between teeth, as they brush against each other and shift over time.
- The bite down: If there is a crack present, a dentist can find this out by having the patient bite down onto something and release. After the release, if there is pain, then there is most likely a crack present.
Treatments for a cracked tooth
Once the dentist has established that there is a crack, then possible treatments can be discussed based on the severity of the crack. Treatment can include:
- Bonding: tooth colored resin is applied to the crack to seal it.
- Contouring or smoothing: the affected area is smoothed and polished.
- Veneers: A porcelain bond is placed over the entire tooth.
- Crowns: For bigger cracks, a crown helps keep the tooth together.
- Root canal: More extensive nerve damage causes for the removal of the nerves.
- Tooth removal: If the tooth is too damaged to save, then the dentist will fully remove the tooth so the area can heal.
The longer someone waits to fix the problem, the more the treatments will cost down the line based on the progress of the damage and what has been impacted.
Related Article: Symptoms of Cracked Tooth