More Info On Cracked Teeth!
Expansion on the Types
Craze lines are tiny cracks in the outer layer of your enamel only. They’re very common in adults. They are extremely shallow and they don’t cause pain. While not cosmetically pleasing, they’re not dangerous. Craze lines do not require treatment.
A fractured cusp is a fracture at the point of a tooth on the chewing surface. A cusp can become weakened and either break off on its own or it may need to be removed by Dr. Kotz. Removing it usually relieves the pain. Fractured cusps rarely damage the pulp of your tooth, so root canal treatment is usually not necessary. To repair the tooth back to normal, Dr. Kotz may recommend a crown.
With cracked teeth, some cracks extend all the way from the chewing surface down into the root of your tooth. Depending on the position of the crack, damage to the pulp can happen. In many cases, Dr. Kotz would recommend root canal treatment to fix a cracked tooth.
A split tooth happens when a tooth is cracked and, over time, the crack progresses until the tooth eventually splits into two separate parts. Depending on the gravity of the split, Dr. Kotz may not be able to save the tooth intact. Depending on the position and extent of the crack, he will determine whether part of the tooth can be saved with a crown or another restorative procedure.
Vertical root fractures are cracks that begin in the root of a tooth. Because the fracture line may not be visible, Dr. Kotz has to pay special attention to your symptoms in order to identify if you have one. Vertical root fractures are some of the most difficult fractures to identify. They are often fixed through endodontic treatment. It is sometimes possible to save part of the tooth, but in many cases the tooth needs to be removed.
Preventing Cracks & Chips
It is difficult to completely prevent chipped or cracked teeth because almost everyone ends up with it eventually. Here are a few ideas that Dr. Kotz suggests to prevent unnecessary damage:
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Don’t chew on ice, popcorn kernels, pens, hard candy, or other hard objects.
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Don’t clench or grind your teeth.
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If you clench or grind your teeth while sleeping, speak with Dr. Kotz about getting a retainer or mouthguard.
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Wear a mouthguard when playing contact sports.
If you would like a closer examination of your teeth, give us a call to schedule a consultation.