Are you worried that you suffer from a cracked tooth? Do you know that a root canal treatment can actually save your tooth?
What is a cracked tooth?
A cracked tooth means a crack extends from the chewing surface of your tooth vertically toward the root. The tooth is not yet separated into pieces, though the crack may gradually spread.
Identifying symptoms
Cracked teeth show a variety of symptoms, including erratic pain when chewing or pain when your tooth is exposed to temperature extremes. In many cases, the pain may come and go, and your dentist may have difficulty locating which tooth is causing the discomfort.
How late is too late?
Early diagnosis is important in order to save the tooth. If the crack has extended into the pulp, the tooth can be treated with a root canal procedure and a crown to protect the crack from spreading. If the crack extends below the gum line, it is no longer treatable, and the tooth cannot be saved and will need to be extracted. That’s why early treatment is important. A cracked tooth that is not treated will progressively worsen, eventually resulting in the loss of the tooth. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential in saving these teeth.
The treatment
The treatment you receive for your cracked tooth is important because it will relieve pain and reduce the likelihood that the crack will worsen. Once treated, most cracked teeth continue to function and provide years of comfortable chewing. Unlike a broken bone, the fracture in a cracked tooth will not heal. In spite of treatment, some cracks may continue to progress and separate, resulting in loss of the tooth. Placement of a crown on a cracked tooth provides maximum protection, but does not guarantee success in all cases.
There are many different types of cracked teeth. The treatment and outcome for your tooth depends on the type, location and extent of the crack.
Next steps
Do you think you show the symptoms of a cracked tooth? Remember, early diagnosis is important.
Click here to schedule an appointment today with Dr. Feldman.
Source:
http://www.aae.org/patients/symptoms/cracked-teeth.aspx
