The Good News About Your Cracked Tooth

Problems related to cracked teeth are the third leading cause of tooth loss, but most of us probably don’t think much about them except when we wake up in a panic because we cracked a tooth in a dream.

The reality is that cracked teeth occur, so you should prepare for when you find yourself in that situation. 

The good news? With a visit to your friendly local dentist, like Dr. Robert Nance in Statesville and Hickory, North Carolina, the crack can be repaired so you can resume your normal activities. 

Here’s more about how Dr. Nance and his experienced team guide you through a cracked tooth.

Kinds of cracks

You can experience a cracked tooth for a variety of common causes, including:

• Pressure from grinding your teeth (often at night while you’re asleep)
• Biting down on hard foods such as ice or candy
• A filling that has weakened the integrity of your tooth
• Age (many teeth cracks occur in people over 50)
• Injury from an event such as a car accident, fall, or fight.

Depending on the cause, various types of cracks can occur:

• Craze lines — miniscule cracks in the enamel on the outside of your teeth. They don’t cause pain and don’t require treatment.
• Fractured cusp — usually occurs around a dental filling and doesn’t cause much pain because it doesn’t affect the pulp of the tooth
• Cracks that extend into the gum line — if a vertical crack doesn’t reach your gum, the tooth may be saved. If it does extend into the gum line, it probably has to be extracted.
• Split tooth — this kind of crack separates the tooth into two segments.

Treatments of a cracked tooth 

Treatment of the crack will depend on the type, size, location, and extent of the crack. Many treatments can save the tooth!

Bonding is a procedure where the crack is filled with a plastic resin, restoring the look, feel, and function of the tooth.

A crown is a prosthetic device made of porcelain or ceramic that fits over the damaged tooth to protect it. This treatment usually works well for a fractured cusp where a piece of your chewing surface has broken off.

A root canal is a good treatment for a more serious crack that extends into the pulp, or center of the tooth, where the nerves and connective tissue are. The root canal removes the damaged pulp, which restores the integrity and strength of the tooth.

If the structure of the tooth, the nerves, and the root are damaged so that no repair is possible, extraction of the tooth may be the only option. If this is the case for you, a dental implant may be an option to replace your tooth. 

In many cases, a cracked tooth can be repaired quickly, and we can restore your tooth to as good as new. If you need treatment for a cracked tooth, Dr. Nance and his team are ready to assist you. Call either office to set up an appointment so we can get you in to make your smile beautiful as soon as possible.