It’s always traumatic to crack a tooth, whether from a chicken bone, sports injury, teeth grinding, or another situation. Fortunately, restorative dentistry fixes your problem, protecting both your oral health and lovely smile.
If you’ve cracked a tooth or experience other dental issues that take away from the health and look of your smile, Adam Nusblatt, DMD, and the knowledgeable team at Nusblatt Dental can put your oral health back on track. Here, we explain what you need to know about cracked teeth and the steps you should take when you’ve cracked a tooth.
Beneath your tooth’s white enamel lies dentin. Inside, soft tissue, known as pulp, contains blood vessels and nerves. A crack in your tooth enamel can put your whole tooth at risk.
Although you may be immediately aware of a cracked tooth, sometimes it’s less obvious. Either way, a crack in your tooth enables bacteria to enter, potentially leading to an abscess or worse. Dr. Nusblatt diagnoses different types of cracks, including:
Whatever the cause or type, we repair your tooth to keep you smiling.
You may notice these symptoms before even realizing your tooth is cracked:
When you chew on a split tooth, the two sides may move and irritate the pulp, causing pain and sensitivity in the area.
Left unchecked, a cracked tooth that lets bacteria enter can cause an abscess, resulting in fever, bad breath, and swollen gums or lymph nodes. That’s why it’s crucial to contact your dentist before further damage occurs.
Although you can’t fix a cracked tooth at home, Dr. Nusblatt advises gently rinsing your mouth with warm salt water and placing an ice pack outside your mouth for 10 minutes at a time to prevent swelling while waiting for your appointment. Eat only soft foods or liquids, and avoid chewing on that side of your mouth.
Dr. Nusblatt visually examines your tooth to determine the extent of the damage, and he may take X-rays or a 3D scan. He also checks for gum inflammation caused by a vertical tooth fracture.
Depending upon the extent of the damaged area, a variety of options are available. These include smoothing out the edges, filling the crack, bonding (sealing) the area with resin that matches your tooth, or employing dental veneers or Lumineers — protective shells that fit over the front of your tooth.
Should the crack be extensive, or if you’ve developed oral health problems by delaying treatment when the crack first occurred, he may:
While a cracked tooth doesn’t heal by itself, you may only need minimal treatment. Once Dr. Nusblatt assesses your situation, he discusses your options with you.
While a cracked tooth often lies completely out of your control, we suggest a few ways to lower the odds of a crack occurring in the first place:
Regular, comprehensive dental checkups allow our team to examine your teeth for weak spots that could be vulnerable to cracking and address them promptly to help prevent future oral health problems.
If you’re faced with a dental problem that requires restorative dentistry, such as a cracked tooth, call Nusblatt Dental in East Village of Manhattan in New York City at 212-651-1605 or schedule an appointment online today.
