Cracked Teeth
Cracked teeth show many different symptoms, including discomfort when chewing, sensitivity to temperature, or pain when releasing bite pressure. Tooth pain from cracks often comes and goes, making it challenging to identify the source of discomfort.
Chewing causes movement of the fractured tooth pieces, and the pulp inside the tooth becomes irritated. When bite pressure is released, the crack can close rapidly, creating sharp pain. Over time, the pulp will become damaged and the tooth will hurt constantly, even when not chewing. Cracks can potentially lead to pulp tissue infection, which may spread to the bone and gum tissue around the affected tooth.
Types of Cracks
Craze lines
These are small cracks that only affect the outer enamel of the tooth. These cracks are more common in adults. These types of cracks are surface-level and are typically of no concern.
Fractured Cusp
When a cusp becomes weakened, a fracture may occur. The cusp may break off or be removed by a dentist. A fractured cusp rarely damages the pulp, so root canal treatment is not necessary. Your dentist will typically restore the tooth with a full crown.
Treatable Cracked Tooth
This type of crack extends from the chewing surface of the tooth and moves vertically toward the root. In some cases, the crack may extend below the gum line. The crack can potentially extend further into the root. Damage to the pulp is common. In this situation, root canal treatment is typically necessary. A cracked tooth that goes untreated will worsen, resulting in tooth loss. Early detection is critical for successful treatment.
Split Tooth
A split tooth is typically the result of an untreated cracked tooth. It can be identified by a crack with distinct segments. This type of tooth cannot be saved intact. However, the location and extent of the damage will determine whether any portion of the tooth can be preserved. Sometimes, endodontic retreatment by the doctors and restoration by your dentist can be used to save part of the tooth.
Vertical Root Fracture
A vertical root fracture begins at the root and extends toward the chewing surface of the tooth. Unfortunately, they show minimal symptoms and may go undetected. Treatment involves endodontic surgery if part of the tooth can be saved by removing the fractured root. Otherwise, the tooth will need to be extracted.