While a cracked tooth cannot be put back together again, it can be repaired or covered so it can still function. It just depends on the severity of the crack. In most cases, we will try to save a cracked tooth instead of extracting it. The following details will give you more insight about this specific dental problem.
How Does a Tooth Get Cracked?
Usually, when we see a patient with a cracked tooth, he or she has bitten down on something hard. They may also crack a tooth if they grind their teeth at night. Most of the foods that cause cracks include hard candy, nuts, or ice. In some cases, a tooth may become cracked if the patient has been involved in a car accident or they received an injury from a fall or athletic play. Cracks take different forms, as well. For example, craze lines are very tiny cracks in the tooth's enamel. These cracks usually do not require treatment, as they do not cause pain or discomfort. A fracture cusp can emerge around a filling, and may not be painful either. However, a crack that is vertical is another issue.
When We Try to Save a Cracked Tooth
If the tooth features a vertical crack that has not yet made it to the gum line, we normally can save it. However, if it reaches past that point, we generally need to remove it. Some cracks split the tooth into two parts, which may either lead to extraction or to saving a part of the tooth. If the tooth sustains a root fracture that moves upwards, it normally cannot be saved. If the tooth is useless and will only irritate the gum, we have to remove it. To save a cracked tooth, we can resort to bonding, adding a crown, or performing a root canal. If the tooth's structure, along with its pulp (roots and nerves) are extremely damaged, we usually have to extract it.
See us today if you have a chip or crack in a tooth that concerns you. This type of treatment should not wait, as the longer you wait, the worse the problem may become. Make it your goals to follow good routine dental care. Give us a call now to arrange a cleaning and exam.
Our Blog | Water’s Edge Dental | Boise, ID dentist Water's Edge Dental has created this informative blog to help educate the community. Water's Edge Dental, 6657 N. Glenwood Street, Boise, ID 83714-1925 / (208) 391-8554 / watersedgedentalboise.com / 12/2/2024 / Tags: dentist Boise ID /
While a cracked tooth cannot be put back together again, it can be repaired or covered so it can still function. It just depends on the severity of the crack. In most cases, we will try to save a cracked tooth instead of extracting it. The following details will give you more insight about this specific dental problem.