Cracked Teeth
Cracked teeth demonstrate many types of symptoms, including pain when chewing, temperature sensitivities, or even on the release of biting pressure. It is also common for pain to come and go, making it difficult to diagnose the cause of discomfort.
Chewing can cause movement of the cracked pieces of your tooth, and the pulp within the tooth becomes irritated. At the same time, when biting pressure is released, the crack can close quickly, resulting in sharp pain. Eventually, the pulp will become damaged and tooth will consistently hurt, even when you are not chewing. It is possible that cracks can lead to infection of the pulp tissue, which can spread to the bone and gum surrounding the problematic tooth. Types of Cracks
Craze lines
These are tiny cracks that only affect the outer enamel of the tooth. These cracks are more common in adults. These types of cracks are superficial and are usually of no concern. Fractured Cusp When a cusp becomes weakened, a fracture may result. The cusp may break off or be removed by a dentist. A fractured cusp may not damage the pulp, so a root canal is not always necessary. Your dentist will usually restore the tooth with a full crown. Cracked Tooth This type of crack extends from the chewing surface of the tooth and vertically migrates towards the root. Damage to the pulp is commonplace. In this case, root canal treatment is usually necessary. A cracked tooth that is not treated will worsen and, in some cases, the crack may extend below the gum line. Without proper treatment it is possible for the crack to extend further into the root, resulting in the loss of the tooth. Therefore, early detection and treatment is essential. Split Tooth A split tooth is usually the result of an untreated cracked tooth. It can be identified by a crack with distinct segments. This type of tooth can never be saved intact and usually results in loss of the tooth. However, the position and extent of the problem will dictate whether any portion of the tooth can be saved. On occasion, endodontic treatment by your endodontist and restoration by your dentist can be used to save a portion of the tooth. Vertical Root Fracture A vertical root fracture begins at the root end and extends towards the chewing surface of the tooth. Unfortunately, they show minimal symptoms and may go unnoticed. Treatment involves endodontic surgery if a portion of the tooth can be saved by removal of the fractured root. Otherwise the tooth will have to be extracted. Achieve beautiful results and optimal oral health at Prime Dental Group. Call our Bellevue Prime Dental Group at (425) 605-3575 or Lynnwood Prime Dental Group at (425) 251-0707 today and schedule a routine care, consultation, or second opinion appointment with Dr. Kim or other associates. We welcome residents of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Renton, Mercer Island, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Bothell, Everett, Mukilteo, Edmonds and the surrounding areas.
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