If you have a cracked tooth, you might be bothered by it for a few reasons, including discomfort and aesthetics. There are other reasons to consult a dentist if you have a cracked tooth, too. One key reason is that cracks in the teeth can invite infection into the tooth, and subsequently into the bloodstream, and they can also compromise the health of the tooth and result in tooth loss. In many cases, a cracked tooth can be saved, though this depends on a few critical factors.
The extent of the crack in your tooth, and the type of crack, both play pivotal roles in determining whether a cracked tooth can be saved. Dental cracks can vary significantly, depending on the type of dental tissue affected and the location and nature of the crack. For example, many people have superficial cracks in their dental enamel, particularly on the front teeth, which appear as minor lines of discoloration called craze lines. These superficial cracks can often be left untreated, though routine monitoring by a dentist is important to prevent them from worsening. When treatment is desired or required, they can usually be managed with minor procedures like bonding or polishing; while craze lines might look unusual, their effects are cosmetic and shouldn’t affect the tooth’s structure or health.
When dental fractures extend more deeply, into the dentin layer below the enamel, the risks increase and treatment may be more invasive. If a fracture breaches the dentin and enters the pulp inside a tooth’s root, prompt treatment is imperative. Dental pulp is full of nerves and blood vessels, and damage to the pulp not only encourages inflammation and infection, it’s also profoundly painful. Immediate intervention by a dentist is crucial if you want to prevent further complications. The crack’s location on the tooth will also affect the treatment type. When only the crown of the tooth – the part of the tooth that’s visible above the gum line – is damaged, treatment options tend to be more straightforward. When cracks extend into the root, below the gum line, treatment is more complicated. If the root of a tooth is fractured vertically, treatment is especially challenging, as these cracks are more prone to infection of surrounding tissues.
When cracks in teeth are minor, dentists may choose to treat the issue with dental bonding or a filling, using tooth-colored resin to seal the crack and restore the tooth, preventing it from deteriorating further. If a dental fracture has affected a large portion of the tooth or if the tooth is extremely weak, the dentist may recommend a dental crown. These custom-made prosthetics cover the entire crown of a tooth, protecting and stabilizing it while helping to preserve the tooth’s function and integrity.
If a crack extends into a tooth’s pulp, it’s likely that a root canal will be necessary. This highly effective treatment relieves pain, removes the risk of systemic infection, and allows the natural tooth to be saved. In a root canal, the dentist removes infected, inflamed pulp tissue before cleaning out the canal of the tooth root, sanitizing and sealing it off to prevent further infection.
When more severe cracks extend below the gums, or if the tooth is broken or split into segments, surgery may be required. If the tooth cannot be saved, it will be extracted. As the teeth do their daily work, cracks will only worsen, and ignoring symptoms or delaying treatment will only make the problem worse, risking the long-term health and functionality of your teeth.