Symptoms of Cracked Tooth

When damage is taken to the tooth by biting on something hard, blunt force impact to the mouth, teeth grinding, or poor diet choices, a crack is most likely to form on the surface and possibly deeper into the tooth. Sometimes, the crack is small, and there are no effects on the tooth. However, more critical cases lead to the tooth eventually breaking into pieces or even splitting. These cracks often happen to the upper front teeth, which are often exposed, and the lower back of the jaw where the molars are located.

Possible symptoms

As stated before, a small enough crack in the tooth won’t cause any symptoms right away, but once the crack starts to worsen, the symptoms become more severe. These symptoms can range in stages from:

  1. Hot or cold food and drinks, sweets, and forced air are all possible symptoms of a crack forming deep enough into the tooth where it’s most sensitive.
  2. Chewing or biting into foods causes a sharp pain, mostly after releasing a bite.
  3. A coming and going pain in the affected area; this pain isn’t consistent.
  4. Swollen gums indicate a crack, mostly ones that run down vertically into the tooth.

In some extreme cases, the crack may expose the nerve to harmful bacteria that can cause infection, which is known as a tooth abscess. This is when pus starts to form in the gum where the tooth is infected, and the gums begin to swell from the pressure and infection. Once the infection gets bad, it can lead to symptoms like:

  1. There is pain while chewing or overall pain that doesn’t go away.
  2. Bad breath, which is also known as halitosis.
  3. Swollen and tender lymph nodes in the neck.
  4. Swollen gums in the affected area may also be filled with pus from the infection.
  5. A fever caused by the infection.

To help the patient, the dentist will use a special tool to probe along the gums to find the inflamed area and drain the pus from the gums. This is to release the pressure from the pus buildup and to clear away the harmful bacteria in that area, giving way for the body to start the healing process. If needed, the dentist will also prescribe an antibiotic to take to kill off any of the infection-causing bacteria as well. Once the infection is cleared up, the dentist can safely start working on the cracked tooth and helping the patient heal over the course of a few visits.

Cracked tooth treatment and cost:

When a cracked tooth forms, the cost of treatment can vary based on the severity of the tooth’s crack. These treatments and prices can vary from:

  1. Dental bonding, where a tooth-colored resin is placed on the crack: $100 – $1,000
  2. Per crown and the type of material used: $1,000 – $1,500
  3. A root canal, where the nerves are removed from the tooth: $500 – $2,000
  4. Tooth removal for when the tooth cannot be saved and the best option for a better lifestyle: $150 – $250.

Related Article: Cracked Teeth & Extractions