Cracks in your teeth can happen anytime, but they won’t correct themselves. Cracked teeth can worsen the longer you delay treatment. Get an evaluation and care from a team of endodontists who work to help you save your teeth. At Southwest Endodontics, we offer treatment for cracked teeth Orland Park IL and Geneva locals can depend on. Quality care for a cracked tooth could raise your chances of keeping your natural tooth.
Cracked Teeth
How to Tell If You Have a Cracked Tooth
Cracked teeth are not always obvious to you, especially because you may have symptoms that come and go. Treating a cracked tooth is important because the fracture can worsen and cause severe damage. You might even lose the tooth if the crack causes an infection or extends deep into the tooth.
If you think you have a cracked tooth, schedule a visit with us at Southwest Endodontics for a thorough evaluation and care. Some signs of a cracked tooth to watch out for include the following:
- Pain after releasing bite pressure
- Sensitivity to temperature extremes in a tooth
- Discomfort when chewing
- Pain that comes and goes
- Visible cracks on the tooth
Treatment for your cracked tooth as soon as you notice symptoms prevents the most serious complications from tooth fractures, eases your pain, and can save your tooth.
Types of Tooth Cracks
Tooth cracks fall into various categories based on the length and location of the crack. The chances of fixing the damage and saving the tooth depend on the type of crack you have.
Split Tooth
A split tooth usually happens after a crack in a tooth worsens and lengthens until it separates the tooth into parts. Even with the best endodontic care, endodontists cannot save the entire tooth. However, they may be able to let you retain a portion of it by performing surgery. The sizes of the broken parts of the tooth will determine whether an endodontist can save part of it or if you need extraction.
Vertical Root Fracture
A vertical root fracture is one of the hardest cracks to spot early. These cracks start under the gumline at the tooth root. Like split teeth, those with vertical root fractures may require endodontic surgery to preserve a portion of the tooth.
Broken Cuspid Above the Gum Line
The biting surface of the tooth above the gum line is the cuspid. This portion of the tooth regularly experiences pressure and force through daily biting. However, if you grind or use your teeth to break open bottles or packages, you could put unnecessary pressure on the cuspids and cause fractures.
The good news about a broken cuspid above the gumline is that the damage typically does not reach the pulp. If the damage only affects the top of the tooth, you don’t need a root canal treatment to correct it. However, you will likely need a crown after removing the broken part of the tooth.
Cracked Tooth
A crack in a tooth can start at the biting area and stretch down toward the root. The best chance for saving teeth with cracks from the biting surface is when the crack stops before the gumline. If you don’t get treatment for this damage, the crack could grow longer until you have a split tooth.
Craze Lines
Craze lines might look like fine cracks in your teeth. However, these lines do not impact the health of the teeth. They are only cosmetic issues that often affect the enamel of adults. However, if you notice lines on your teeth and feel pain, you may have something more severe than craze lines. Please make an appointment with one of our endodontists to check your teeth.
How We Treat Cracked Teeth at Southwest Endodontics
Treatment for cracked teeth may look different for various patients because the type of crack, its extent of damage, and the patient’s dental health all play into the kind of care needed. Some of the most common treatments for cracked teeth include root canal therapy and endodontic surgery.
Simple cracks in a tooth open the canals inside the tooth to bacteria that live in your mouth. When those bacteria get into the root canals, they cause inflammation of the pulp and pain from the infection.
To correct the pain, endodontists must clean the tooth canals out with root canal treatment. Performing a root canal treatment stops an infection from growing beyond the canals of the tooth and eases the pain. This care for a cracked tooth removes the inflamed pulp and painful nerves. Since the crack and removal of the pulp from the tooth will make the treated tooth weaker than it was before the crack, it will likely need a crown for protection.
In cases of fractures that start at the root end of a tooth or that split the tooth, we may need to do endodontic surgery to treat the base of the crack and help save the tooth. Sometimes, though, cracked teeth have caused such severe damage to the tooth that extraction is the only remaining option. Therefore, you should get treatment as soon as you notice signs of a crack.
Signs of Complications from Untreated Cracked Teeth
Ignoring a cracked tooth can lead to some serious complications that you definitely want to avoid. One of the first signs that something is off is persistent pain. If you find yourself dealing with ongoing or worsening discomfort, it could mean that bacteria have slipped in through the crack, potentially causing an infection.
Swelling and sensitivity are also red flags. If the gums around the affected tooth start to swell or you notice increased sensitivity to hot and cold, it’s a sign that the pulp inside the tooth might be inflamed or infected.
One of the more severe outcomes of an untreated crack is the formation of an abscess. This is a pocket of pus that results from bacterial infection. You might experience swelling, a foul taste in your mouth, or even a fever if this happens. Abscesses can lead to more serious issues if not treated promptly, so it’s important to keep an eye out for these symptoms.
Changes in the color of your gums can also signal trouble. If you notice the gums near the cracked tooth darkening or discoloring, it might mean an infection is brewing. Similarly, if chewing becomes increasingly uncomfortable or painful, that’s another sign that the crack could be worsening and affecting the structural integrity of the tooth.
Sometimes, the tooth may even start to feel loose. This can indicate that the supporting bone and tissue are being compromised, which could eventually lead to tooth loss if not addressed. And let’s not forget about bad breath. If you have persistent bad breath despite regular brushing, it could be a sign of infection or decay stemming from the crack.
If you notice any of these signs, don’t wait around. Seeking dental care as soon as possible can help prevent more severe complications, like needing extraction or extensive surgery. At Southwest Endodontics, we’re here to help you.
Lifestyle Impact of Cracked Teeth
Cracked teeth can throw a wrench in your daily life in ways you might not expect. For starters, think about eating. When you have a cracked tooth, enjoying your favorite foods can become a hassle. Whether it’s biting into a crunchy apple or sipping a hot cup of coffee, you might feel discomfort that makes you second-guess every bite.
Then there’s the impact on your self-esteem. A visible crack or pain can make you feel self-conscious about your smile. You might catch yourself covering your mouth when you laugh or avoiding social gatherings altogether. That’s no way to live! It can really affect how you interact with others and how confident you feel in everyday situations.
Plus, living with constant discomfort can add stress to your life. When you’re in pain, it’s hard to focus on anything else—work, hobbies, or just relaxing at home. That stress can spill over into other parts of your life, making everything feel more overwhelming.
This is why getting treatment for a cracked tooth is so important. Addressing it early can help ease your pain and get you back to enjoying life without those annoying restrictions.
Why Choose Southwest Endodontics for Care of Your Cracked Teeth
We use the latest endodontic technology including GentleWave technology to treat your cracked teeth and help them heal quickly. For instance, our clinic uses the latest in imaging to get the clearest images of your tooth while ensuring minimum radiation exposure. Cone-beam CT scans give our doctors 3D images with 90% less exposure to radiation than older technologies.
If you have a line or visible crack in a tooth, turn to the endodontic practice that uses the best technological tools available to treat the cracked teeth, Geneva, IL, and Orland Park, IL, residents may experience. Contact us at Southwest Endodontics to get the endodontic care you need to increase the chances of saving your cracked tooth.