Cracked Teeth Solutions by Redmond Dentist Dr. Derrick Wang
Providing services in Endodontics & Microsurgery to the area of Redmond, Washington (WA).
Cracked Teeth
Habits such as clenching, grinding and chewing on hard objects make our teeth more susceptible to cracks and fractures. Any tooth in your mouth can develop a variety of fractures that threaten its structural integrity. However, the treatment and outcome for your tooth is dependent on the type, location and extent of the crack. From least to most invasive, the different types of cracked teeth are:
- Craze lines
- Fractured cusps
- Cracked teeth
- Split teeth
- Vertical root fractures
Craze Lines
Craze lines are shallow cracks that affect your outer enamel. They are very common in adult teeth, cause no discomfort and should not be a concern other than appearance.
Fractured Cusps
Cusps are the pointed part of the chewing surface of your tooth. Fractures in cusps occur when they are weakened through years of grinding, clenching or chewing. A fractured cusp can cause mild pain, but is usually alleviated when the weakened cusp breaks off by itself or is removed by the dentist. Root canal treatment is typically not needed, since a fractured cusp rarely damages the pulp. However, the tooth will need to be restored with a full crown.
Cracked Teeth
A cracked tooth commonly causes damage to the pulp,since the crack extends from the chewing surface of the tooth vertically toward the root. Root canal therapy is the best option to treat the injured pulp. After root canal therapy, we restore it with a crown to protect the cracked tooth. On certain occasions, the crack may extend below the gum level,requiring extraction.
A cracked tooth that is not detected and treated will progressively worsen, eventually resulting in the loss of the tooth. Although it is sometimes difficult to determine the extent of a crack even with magnification and illumination, early detection, diagnosis and treatment are essential in saving these teeth.
Split Tooth
Cracks deepen when left unchecked and may result in a split tooth which cannot be saved intact. A split tooth is recognized by a crack with two distinct segments that can be separated. In rare instances, a portion of the tooth may be saved with root canal therapy and a crown, but whether it is even savable is primarily determined by the position and extent of the crack.
Vertical Root Fracture
A vertical root fracture is a crack that begins at the root and travels in reverse, toward the chewing surface. Since they often show minimal signs and symptoms, these fractures can worsen dramatically before being discovered. Treatment may involve extraction of the tooth, but endodontic microsurgery may be appropriate if a portion of the tooth can be saved by removal of the fractured root.
