Cracked Teeth: What Are the Signs and Treatment Options?
In Australia, poor oral health contributes to 4.5% of all non-fatal burden diseases. While that might not seem like a large number, it’s enough to affect all sorts of people and decrease their quality of life.
Living with damaged teeth can be uncomfortable, and it may hurt your self-esteem. Plus, it can lead to complications, such as an infection.
So how do you know if you have cracked teeth, and what are the treatment options? Keep reading to find out.
Signs of Cracked Teeth
Cracked teeth don’t always have symptoms. However, some people will experience pain that’s not constant. Most likely, you’ll feel pain when chewing, especially when you release your bite.
You might also have sensitivity to temperature changes, as well as sweet foods.
Lastly, an obvious sign of a cracked tooth is swelling in the gums around the affected tooth.
Cracked Teeth Causes
Many people have bruxism, which is teeth grinding and some have clenching of teeth in addition to this. It’s easier to stop grinding and prevent cracked teeth if it occurs during daytime, but if you have nighttime bruxism, it can be tougher to stop.
You might also get cracked teeth from chewing or biting hard foods. Trauma to the mouth can result in cracked teeth too.
Other causes include fillings that are too large (they compromise the integrity of your teeth) and abrupt changes in temperature in your mouth. If you’re over 50, you’re more likely to experience teeth cracks too.
Cracked Teeth Treatments
In some cases, small hairline cracks in your teeth don’t need to be treated, especially if they don’t cause pain or affect your appearance. Otherwise, there are several ways a dentist can treat cracks in teeth.
The least invasive treatment is bonding. The dentist fills the crack with plastic resin to restore your tooth’s appearance and function.
If the crack can’t be fixed with bonding, then your dentist might fit a crown over the tooth. This is a fake tooth made of either porcelain or ceramic, which matches your other teeth. It’s fitted and cemented on top of your damaged tooth, and can last a lifetime if you take care of it.
In more serious cases, you might need a root canal procedure. This removes damaged pulp and can prevent further damage and infection.
In the most extreme cases, the dentist may need to extract your tooth. This is the last resort if the inside structures of your tooth (such as the nerves and roots) are severely damaged and can’t be saved.
See a Bondi Dentist for Cracked Teeth
If you suspect that you have cracked teeth, then seeing a dentist promptly is the best idea. They can give you a thorough evaluation and then discuss the best treatment options, ensuring that you feel comfortable and safe the entire time.
A cracked tooth can become worse, so don’t delay. The sooner you see a dentist, the higher the chance that you won’t need serious action.
If you need a dentist in Bondi Junction, then contact us today. We’re open Monday through Friday, except on Wednesday.