Your teeth are remarkably strong. But they are not invincible. Even a healthy tooth can fracture under extreme pressure. While it may be easy to spot a broken tooth, a tooth crack can be difficult to detect. In fact, hairline cracks in a tooth may be undetectable to the eye but they require the same prompt treatment as a major crack or break.
Cracked tooth syndrome (CTS) is a painful condition that occurs when there is a crack in one of your teeth. CTS can describe anything from a tiny hairline split in the crown of a tooth to a major fracture that extends all the way to the tooth root. The most important thing is that you recognize cracked tooth syndrome and seek proper treatment.
Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth
Symptoms of a cracked tooth can vary from patient to patient. However, here are the most common warning signs that you may have cracked tooth syndrome:
- Sharp pain when biting down in certain areas
- Pain that goes away when not biting or chewing
- Localized sensitivity to hot, cold, sticky, sweet, or sour foods
- Favoring one side of your mouth to chew
Causes of Cracked Tooth Syndrome
There are several factors that cause teeth to crack, but it is usually one of the following:
- Trauma to the mouth
- Chewing hard foods (nuts, hard candy, ice, etc.)
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Worn or damaged dental restoration
- Improperly performed or unsuccessful root canal
- Bite misalignment/uneven chewing pressure
Why Treatment is Important
Besides being very uncomfortable to deal with, a cracked tooth must be repaired in order to avoid further damage to the health of the tooth and the surrounding teeth. Even a hairline crack can allow harmful bacteria into the root and/or pulp of the tooth. This can cause the tooth to die if not treated. Addressing a cracked tooth early can mean the difference between a filling or crown and root canal or extraction.
Call Manhattan Dental Design today if you notice signs of cracked tooth syndrome. We have the modern imaging it takes to accurately diagnose your tooth damage before recommending an effective solution to restore your tooth.
Posted on behalf of Manhattan Dental Design