Cracked teeth demonstrate many types of symptoms, including pain when chewing, temperature sensitivities, or even pain or discomfort with biting pressure. It is common for these symptoms to come and go, making it difficult to diagnose the cause and source of discomfort.
Chewing can cause movement of the cracked pieces of your tooth, and the pulp within the tooth becomes irritated. At the same time, when biting pressure is released, the crack can close quickly, resulting in sharp pain. Eventually, in more advanced stages, the pulp may become damaged and tooth will consistently hurt, even when you are not chewing. It is possible that cracks can lead to infection of the pulp tissue, which can spread to the bone and gum surrounding the problematic tooth.
There are several types of cracks that can occur in a tooth:
Unlike broken bones which can heal, a fractured root will never heal. Even with treatment, there may be some cracks that continuously worsen and separate, which results in the loss of the tooth.
However, treating a cracked tooth is important because it alleviates the pain, and reduces the likelihood of the crack worsening. After treatment, most cracked teeth can function normally after a final restoration and allow you to chew comfortably for years.
It is very important to diagnose cracked teeth as early as possible. Just like a crack in a windshield, a crack in your tooth can start small, but progressively spread. A cracked tooth that is not treated will get worse over time, deteriorate and eventually result in tooth loss. At Vienna Endodontics, we advanced training and experience needed to evaluate, diagnose, and treat cracked teeth which can help you avoid having them removed.
If you suspect that you are suffering from a cracked tooth, (experiencing sensitivity to cold and/or pain upon biting), Vienna Endodontics at 703-938-5920 to schedule an appointment.
The video below explains cracked tooth symptoms and the types of cracks that occur.