Cracked Tooth Repair in Provo and Orem, UT
Cracked teeth demonstrate many types of symptoms, including pain when chewing and temperature sensitivities. It is also common for pain to come and go, making it difficult to diagnose the cause of discomfort.
Chewing can cause the pieces of your cracked tooth to move, and the pulp within the tooth can become 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 the 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 gums surrounding the problematic tooth.
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Cracked Teeth Can Have Different Types of Cracks
Craze Lines
These are tiny cracks that only affect the outer enamel of the tooth. These cracks are more common in adults. These types of cracks are superficial and usually of no concern.
Fractured Cusp
When a cusp becomes weakened, a fracture may result. The cusp may break off or be removed by a dentist. A fractured cusp may not damage the pulp, so root canal therapy may not be necessary. Your dentist will usually restore the cracked tooth with a full crown.
Cracked Tooth
This type of crack extends from the chewing surface of the tooth and vertically extends towards the root. In some cases, the crack may extend below the gum line. It is possible for the crack to extend further into the root. Damage to the pulp is probable.
In this case, root canal treatment is usually necessary. A cracked tooth that is not treated will worsen, resulting in the loss of the tooth. Therefore, early detection is essential.
Split Tooth
A split tooth is usually the result of an untreated cracked tooth. This type of tooth can never be saved intact. Yet, the position and extent of the problem will dictate whether any portion of the tooth can be saved. Sometimes, endodontic treatment by an endodontist—such as Provo endodontist Dr. Jon Jenson—and restoration by your general dentist can be used to save a portion of the tooth.
Vertical Root Fracture
A vertical root fracture begins at the root and extends towards the chewing surface of the tooth. Unfortunately, they show minimal symptoms and may go unnoticed. Treatment involves endodontic surgery if a portion of the tooth can be saved by removal of the fractured root. Otherwise, the tooth will have to be extracted.
Contact Us for More Information on Cracked Teeth
If you have one or more cracked teeth, come see Provo endodontist Dr. Jenson as soon as you can! Early detection and treatment is often necessary to save a cracked tooth. Contact our Utah County endodontic office in Orem today by calling our office directly or filling out the form on our website.