Cracked Tooth Treatments
Have you noticed that your tooth is cracked? If so, you are probably wondering whether or not your cracked tooth can be treated, and possibly even what caused the crack in the first place.
Below is some helpful information about the causes of cracked teeth, cracked tooth treatments, prevention, and more.
What Causes a Cracked Tooth?
There are a few different circumstances that can lead to a cracked tooth. Some of these include:
- Trauma and injury
- Chewing on hard items
- Biting hard foods
- Teeth grinding and clenching
- Age
Cracked Tooth Treatments
If your tooth is cracked, don’t panic. There are a few treatment options that may be available. These include:
- Dental bonding: Dental bonding is best for minor damage to a tooth. It involves the placement of resin that is shaped and hardened to fix the cosmetic appearance of a damaged tooth.
- Dental veneer: Dental veneers are a step above dental bonding and involve the placement of a small, tooth-colored prosthetic.
- Dental crown: A dental crown is a more serious treatment for a cracked tooth. With a dental crown, your dentist replaces the entire crown of your tooth with a prosthetic.
It’s important to note that if the fracture in the tooth isn’t addressed for long enough, it may become irreparable. If this is the case, your dentist may need to extract the tooth (which may be replaced with a dental implant). As soon as you notice a crack or any of the symptoms of a cracked tooth, contact your dentist.
What Should I Look Out For?
Unsure of what the symptoms of a cracked tooth are? Here are some of the most common:
- Swelling
- Sensitivity
- Consistent pain in the tooth
- Pain when biting and chewing
- A noticeable crack
How to Prevent a Cracked Tooth
The best treatment for a cracked tooth is to avoid it entirely!
While there are circumstances in which a cracked tooth can’t be avoided (like accidents), it’s generally pretty easy to avoid cracked teeth.
The first thing you’ll want to do to avoid a cracked tooth is stop chewing on hard objects. If you chew on pen caps, ice, hard candy, or anything else hard, stop immediately. If you play sports, use a mouthguard to ensure the safety of your teeth.
Finally, make sure you take good care of your oral health. This means brushing your teeth every day, twice a day, along with rinsing and flossing. Make sure you see your dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup as well.
Contact Us
If you see a crack in your tooth or you notice some of the symptoms mentioned above, contact us and set an appointment. Your dentist will examine your tooth and determine if you have a crack in your tooth, and how severe the fracture is. From there, they will recommend a treatment option.
Don’t wait until the situation gets worse. Contact us today to address your cracked tooth. We look forward to speaking with you.