Cracked teeth are a prevalent dental issue. It can occur when the tooth enamel is weakened, allowing the tooth to crack. Cracks can also occur due to trauma, such as falls or accidents, or biting into hard substances like ice or raw vegetables.
Cracked teeth can be extremely painful, depending on the severity of the crack, and make eating or drinking difficult. If a crack is left untreated, it can lead to infection or tooth loss. Knowing how to fix cracked teeth can help you to understand your treatment options and make an informed decision for your oral health.
Types of Cracked Teeth
Cracked teeth range in severity from minor cosmetic issues to cracks that reach the tooth root and cause complete tooth loss. Some common types of dental cracks include:
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Craze Lines
Craze lines are microscopic cracks in the tooth enamel. They do not usually require treatment and are not a cause for concern. However, they weaken the enamel and make your teeth more vulnerable to decay.
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Fractured Cusps
A fractured cusp is a small crack in the tooth’s chewing surface. While the condition is typically not a dental emergency, if you are in pain, you should call an emergency dentist for immediate treatment.
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Split Root
A split root is a crack that extends from the chewing surface to the tooth’s root. These cracks are considered a dental emergency and require treatment by an emergency dentist. Treatment may involve a root canal, crown, or extraction.
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Vertical Root Fracture
A vertical root fracture is a crack that extends from the tooth’s root to the tip. These cracks are considered to be a dental emergency. They are severe and require immediate treatment by a dentist.
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Cracked Root
A cracked root is another serious dental issue that requires immediate treatment from an emergency dentist. It is a crack that extends from the tooth’s root to the tip. Left untreated can lead to a dental abscess, bone deterioration, and tooth loss.
How to Fix a Cracked Tooth: Treatment Options
The type of treatment you need depends on the location and extent of the crack. Understanding your options for how to fix a cracked tooth can alleviate any concerns you might have and help you work with your dentist to find the ideal treatment. Some standard dental treatment options used to treat cracked teeth include:
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Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a treatment that uses tooth-coloured resin to repair cracked teeth. The resin is applied to the damaged area and hardened with a special light.
Bonding can also be used to close gaps between teeth or change a tooth’s shape. Bonding can be used to protect exposed roots and to make minor corrections to the alignment of teeth. Bonding is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to improve the appearance of teeth.
Bonding is not as durable as other options such as veneers or crowns. As a result, bonding may need to be replaced every few years.
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Dental Crown
A dental crown can help to prevent future problems caused by a cracked tooth by removing the damaged tissue and using the crown to provide strength and structural integrity.
Crowns are made from durable materials, such as porcelain or metal, and help to reinforce the tooth structure. At No Gaps Dental, we use advanced CEREC technology to create custom-made crowns in a single session.
We scan your mouth using an intraoral camera and send the data to a CAD/CAM software program to create a virtual mockup of the crown. The mockup is then sent to the on-site milling machine, where your crown is fabricated from a block of zirconia colour-matched to your teeth. When the crown is ready, we cement it in place.
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Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are thin porcelain or ceramic shells that are custom-made to cover the front surface of your teeth. They are used to improve the appearance of teeth that may be discoloured, chipped, misshapen, or slightly misaligned. Veneers can also close spaces between teeth or disguise a cracked tooth.
The advantage of veneers over crowns is that much less of the tooth structure is removed, and with proper care, veneers can last between 10 and 15 years. However, this treatment is only suitable for minor cracks; it is a cosmetic treatment only, and cannot repair any underlying damage or strengthen the tooth.
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Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is necessary when the tooth’s pulp, which contains the nerve, becomes infected or damaged due to a cracked tooth.
An emergency dentist uses this treatment to alleviate the pain you may have been experiencing. The cracked tooth may result from a deep cavity, trauma to the tooth, or repeated dental procedures.
The root canal treatment involves opening the tooth’s crown, removing the infected pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the pulp chamber, shaping the canals, and sealing the tooth with gutta-percha and a filling.
Root canal treatment usually takes one or two visits to the dentist. After root canal treatment, a cracked tooth is weaker and more brittle than an untreated tooth. To protect cracked teeth and restore functionality, a crown will be placed over them.
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Extraction
In many cases, the best way to deal with a cracked tooth is to have it extracted. This may seem like a drastic measure, but it can help prevent further problems. By removing the cracked tooth, you can avoid the risk of it causing damage to other teeth and the underlying jawbone.
Your dentist may recommend a dental implant to replace your missing tooth after tooth extraction. Dental implants use a small metal rod surgically inserted into your jawbone and an artificial restoration to replace your tooth. It is permanent, stable, and looks and acts like a natural tooth.
Get Help with Your Specific Case
If you are experiencing symptoms of a cracked tooth, it is crucial to seek professional help immediately. A dentist will be able to determine the right treatment for your case and explain how to fix cracked teeth.
Call No Gaps Dental at (02) 8007 6727 if you experience a dental emergency or need a consultation.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Cracked tooth diagnosis and treatment: An alternative paradigm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4439863/
Fractured Tooth (Cracked Tooth)
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21628-fractured-tooth-cracked-tooth