Cracked and Fractured Teeth
There are many symptoms a patient can experience when a cracked tooth is involved. Most commonly, a patient will have pain when chewing, abnormalities in biting pressure and sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. In many cases, the discomfort and pain can be inconsistent which makes the root cause of the affected tooth difficult to diagnose.
Our endodontist, Dr. Navid at West Cobb Modern Endodontics is highly trained and experience in treating cracked teeth.
Below is a list of the types of Cracked Teeth:
CRAZE LINES
Craze Lines are very tiny cracks that are on the outer enamel of the tooth and are found most commonly in adults. Typically, Craze Lines are cracks that are superficial and do not have a significant affect on your tooth's health.
FRACTURED CUSP
A Fractured Cusp can occur when the custom of a tooth becomes weakened and vulnerable. Because of the location of the Fractured Cusp, this event rarely damages the pulp which means a root canal treatment is not necessary. Your general dentist will usually recommend restoring the tooth with a porcelain crown.
SPLIT TOOTH
A Split Tooth is usually the result of a cracked tooth that was untreated. A Split Tooth is usually identified by a crack with very distinct segments. Unfortunately, a Split Tooth cannot be saved intact.
TREATABLE CRACKED TOOTH
A Treatable Cracked Tooth usually consists of a crack that extends vertically from the chewing surface toward the root of the tooth. From time to time, the vertical crack can actually extend below the gum line and further into the root of the tooth. In this instance, it is very common for the pulp of the tooth to have damage, which means Dr. Navid may recommend a Root Canal Treatment.
VERTICAL ROOT FRACTURE
A Vertical Root Fracture is when the crack of the tooth begins at the root and extends towards the chewing surface. This type of cracked tooth will show minimal symptoms and often times can go unnoticed. Once diagnosed, Dr. Navid will usually recommend an Apicoectomy (Endodontic MicroSurgery) if a portion of the tooth can be saved by removal of the fractured root. Otherwise, the tooth will have to be extracted.
In many cases, 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, the pulp will 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.
CONTACT WEST COBB MODERN ENDODONTICS TODAY!
West Cobb Modern Endodontics puts patient comfort and care at the top of our priority list, we look forward to meeting you and offering you the treatment you deserve.
Contact us at (770) 800-5500 to schedule an appointment today!
