A cracked or broken tooth is a common problem for people. Dr. Roe has helped many patients that have a crack in their tooth. He does a full evaluation and determines the right course of action.
What Causes a Tooth to Crack?
Even though teeth are hard, they are susceptible to cracking under the right circumstances. Common causes include:
- Biting down on hard foods like ice, candy or nuts
- Grinding from stress
- Exposure to extreme temperatures
- Weakened tooth from root canal
- Loss of tooth enamel from fillings or other restorations
- Accidents that happen to the mouth
These are a few of the common reasons your tooth may crack.
How to Tell if Your Tooth is Cracked
Cracked teeth can be tough to identify, because it’s almost impossible to see the fracture. Even x-rays won’t necessarily show the crack in the tooth. The best way to know if your tooth is cracked is by having Dr. Roe look at the tooth. He will tap your chipped tooth at different points to see if he can recreate the pain you’ve experienced when chewing food.
What Causes a Cracked Tooth to Hurt?
When you put pressure on a cracked or broken tooth, it can cause the crack to open and send a sharp pain through your jaw. When the pressure is released, it will relieve the pain. You will likely experience sharp pain every time you bite down. When this happens you should avoid chewing food.
Will You Need a Root Canal?
There is a possibility that you will need a root canal if you let minor cracks go too long before treatment. The pulp inside of your tooth can get irritated from the exposure of the crack. Your tooth may become extremely sensitive to hot or cold.
In the case that you need a root canal, you will need to see an endodontist. Once the root canal is done, the chipped tooth can be treated.
How a Cracked Tooth is Repaired
Dental crowns are used to repair cracked teeth. The crown goes over the surface of the tooth and covers the natural tooth like a cap. Dr. Roe will prep your natural tooth by grinding down around it so that the crown will fit perfectly overtop. He will hand make a replacement tooth that looks like your natural tooth.
Once the new tooth is created, he will place it overtop of the tooth that is cracked. After the crown is in place, the pain should be relieved.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Crown
Generally speaking, you should walk out of the dental office with at least a temporary crown on your tooth. A temp is made to protect the natural tooth from further damage while the permanent tooth is made. Some offices send the information off to a dental lab to create the crown. Here at ProDental Dallas, we make the crowns in our office.
Call Today For a Crown
If you think your tooth is cracked and you are in need of a dental crown, give our office a call. Dr. Roe is able to do a comprehensive exam on you and determine if your tooth is cracked. He’ll give you the best treatment option for your oral health concerns.
Call us now so we can schedule you for a time that works for you.
