Cracked Teeth Reynoldsburg
At McKibben Dental, our goal is to provide our patients with immediate and effective endodontic care. When suffering from a cracked tooth, patients may experience a wide variety of uncomfortable symptoms that must be fixed as soon as possible by our experienced team of experts. Cracked teeth may result from a traumatic injury to the mouth or general wear and tear of your teeth. In many cases, pain may come and go–so it is essential to see Dr. McKibben and Dr. Ehrbar if you experience any symptoms.
Symptoms of Cracked Teeth
When a patient’s tooth is cracked, there could be a variety of different symptoms. Some common symptoms include erratic pain while chewing or pressure from biting and pain when the cracked tooth is exposed to extreme temperatures (hot or cold.) Generally, you may experience constant or dull pain if you have a cracked tooth.
When a tooth is cracked, the hard outer parts of the tooth are broken or cracked, which can cause pulp irritation when you are chewing. Eventually, the pulp will become damaged to the point that it can no longer heal itself and potentially cause a deep infection–needing additional treatment from Dr. McKibben and Dr. Ehrbar.
Treatment of Cracked Teeth
Our trusted team will do everything possible to save your cracked teeth and relieve any pain or discomfort. When it comes to treatment, it is best to visit us as soon as you experience any symptoms. There are many different types of cracked teeth, and treatment may be dependent upon which type, location, and extent of the crack you may have.
Types of cracks:
- Craze lines: These are tiny cracks that affect only the outer enamel. These cracks are very common in adult teeth.
- Fractured cusp-When a piece of a tooth’s chewing surface breaks off, often around a filling, it’s called a fractured cusp. A fractured cusp rarely damages the pulp, and usually doesn’t cause much pain.
- Cracked tooth-A cracked tooth means a crack extends from the chewing surface of your tooth vertically toward the root.
- Split tooth-The split tooth is identified by a crack with distinct segments that can be separated.
- Vertical root fracture-These are cracks that begin at the root of the tooth and extend toward the chewing surface. They often show minimal signs and symptoms and may go unnoticed for some time.
Contact McKibben Dental Today!
We’re here to help you with any endodontic issue you may have. We encourage you to contact our team at 614-575-9530 so that we can help answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Treatment depends on the location and severity of the crack. Minor cracks may only require monitoring or cosmetic treatment, while deeper cracks may need dental bonding, a crown, root canal therapy, or, in severe cases, extraction if the tooth cannot be saved. Patients in Reynoldsburg, OH receive a personalized treatment plan based on their specific condition.
A cracked tooth should be evaluated as soon as possible, especially if you have severe pain, swelling, bleeding, or a piece of the tooth has broken away. Even small cracks can worsen over time and allow bacteria to reach the inner tooth. Prompt care gives our team the best opportunity to preserve your natural tooth.
While you can’t prevent every crack, you can reduce your risk by wearing a custom mouthguard during sports, using a nightguard if you grind your teeth, avoiding chewing on ice or hard objects, and keeping up with regular dental examinations. Routine dental visits in Reynoldsburg, OH also allow our team to identify weakened teeth before they develop more serious fractures.
No. Unlike other parts of your body, tooth enamel cannot regenerate or repair itself once it has cracked. While symptoms may come and go, the crack remains and may worsen without treatment. Our team can evaluate the damage and recommend the most appropriate treatment to protect the tooth.
Until you can be seen, avoid chewing on the affected side, stay away from hard or sticky foods, and avoid exposing the tooth to very hot or cold temperatures if they trigger discomfort. If needed, over-the-counter pain medication may help manage symptoms until your visit.
