Cracked Tooth
Cracked teeth are a common source of dental pain, similar to dental infection. Often, a cracked tooth is identified with visual examination by a dentist or through identifying symptoms by the patient. A cracked tooth can take many shapes and sizes, but there are often similarities that can help identify if you have a cracked tooth.
Typical signs of a cracked tooth include:
- Fracture or chipped pieces
- Consistent pain when chewing or biting
- Sensitivity to cold or sensitivity to sweets
- Visible crack line on the top of the tooth
- Mobility in the tooth
- Sensitivity to cold or sensitivity to sweets
In most cases, by the time the tooth breaks or becomes very painful, treatment options are limited. It is very important to have routine check-ups with the dentist in order to monitor teeth for any changes. If intervention can be done early, treatment with a crown is more consistent and predictable. Once a cracked tooth becomes symptomatic, it can be a challenge to fix it. Sometimes, the crack can cause irritation to the nerve and an additional root canal is necessary after the placement of the crown. In some instances, if a tooth is cracked all the way through, also known as a "split tooth," the only available treatment is to remove it.
