Cracked teeth – causes, symptoms and treatments

Cracks to your teeth can happen quite easily. All it takes is biting down on something hard and – ouch! You’ve cracked a tooth.

Cracked teeth are quite a common condition and they’re also one of the main causes of tooth loss. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to learn about cracked teeth and what do if you experience this problem.

So, keep reading, because in this post we will explain the causes, symptoms and treatments of cracked teeth.

Causes of cracked teeth

Teeth can crack for several reasons. The most common reasons are

  • Biting into something hard, such as boiled sweets, an olive seed or an ice cube
  • Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding
  • Getting hit in the mouth, such as being hit with a ball during contact sports
  • Getting older: most fractures happen in people over the age of 50

What does a cracked tooth feel like?

Every cracked tooth is different. Some cracks only cause an initial sharp pain which then quickly subsides. Other cracks cause a pain that comes and goes.

However, in general, the symptoms of a cracked tooth are:

  • Pain in your tooth, especially while eating
  • Tooth sensitivity to temperatures or sweetness
  • Swollen gums around the cracked tooth

Even though cracks are usually tiny in size, they can often cause great pain. This is because they reveal the pulp inside your teeth, which is very sensitive.

Treatments for a cracked tooth

When your dentist decides on how to treat your cracked tooth, he or she will take many factors into account. These factors include the location of the crack, the crack’s size, and whether the crack goes into the gum line.

After taking these factors into account, your dentist will probably suggest one of the following treatments

  • Bonding. Bonding is a simple treatment for small and straightforward cracks. It involves applying a plastic resin to the crack to seal it off. Bonding is one of the least intrusive methods.
  • A crown. Your dentist might choose to put a crown over your tooth, which is a prosthetic tooth that fits over the damaged area.
  • A root canal. If the crack has damaged the tooth’s pulp, then a root canal can remove the damaged pulp and may be able to save the tooth.
  • An extraction. The final option, extracting the tooth, is only used when no other options are available. Extractions are typically performed when the tooth, pulp and/or root are damaged beyond repair.

If you suspect that you have a crack in one of your teeth, then make an appointment right away with a dentist. It’s important to seek dental help as quickly as possible so the damage can be minimized.

If you would like to book an appointment with one of our experienced dentists, then please call us and speak to a member of our friendly reception team. We’ll be happy to make an appointment for you and to examine your teeth.

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