Do You Have A Cracked Tooth?
Whether superficial, structural, or painful damage, seek treatment now!
Anyone who’s ever had a cracked tooth can tell you that it can be a distressing situation. However, tooth cracks (fractures) are easily fixable with a range of effective and modern options. Call us today at (510) 233-4470 to schedule an appointment!
What causes a cracked tooth?
Cracked teeth can result from many different situations. Any traumatic blow to the mouth or teeth can cause injury, as well as chewing or crunching on something hard. Using your teeth as a tool to open product packaging is never a good idea, and can result in a crack or fracture.
One of the most common causes includes bruxism (clenching or grinding your teeth). The jaw muscles are the strongest in the human body, and many don’t realize they have this destructive habit. Especially during periods of stress, it can take place during the day or at night subconsciously.
Front Teeth
If you can see the cracked tooth, it probably means that it’s affecting one of the front teeth (incisors or canines). Since these teeth are responsible for biting (rather than chewing), they experience much less pressure compared to molars. Tooth bonding is usually very effective at restoring cracked teeth in this location.
Rear Teeth
For molars or premolars (bicuspids), tooth damage may be hard to spot on your own. Even at an examination with a trained dentist, hairline cracks and stress fractures can be challenging to pinpoint damage with the naked eye alone. So, we’ll often use X-rays to confirm the diagnosis. An updated set of X-rays also gives us a chance to observe the health of the rest of your teeth and catch any developing problems early.
If you are experiencing a painful cracked tooth affecting one of these rear teeth, we may recommend one or more restorations such as a crown or inlay/onlay. Depending on the extent of the damage, the amount of decay, and if any infection is present, we may recommend a root canal to treat the tooth and relieve the pain.
