CRACKED TEETH
Endodontist in Louisville, KY
Cracked teeth are often the result of different behaviors, such as clenching, grinding, and chewing on hard objects. Symptoms of cracked teeth can include, pain when chewing and biting and sensitivity to temperature. Pain will come and go with cracked teeth. This can make it difficult to diagnose which tooth is causing discomfort.
Once a tooth is cracked, chewing can cause the cracked pieces to move. The movement of these pieces will cause irritation and possibly damage. If not properly treated, infection in the pulp tissue can occur and spread to the surrounding bone and gum.
Cracked teeth are treated differently based on type, location, and extent of the crack.The four different types of cracks are:
- Craze Lines
- Fractured Cusp
- Cracked Tooth
- Split Tooth
To prevent cracking your teeth, the following measures should be taken:
- Don’t chew on hard objects, such as ice or pens.
- Don’t clench or grind your teeth.
- If you clench or grind your teeth while you sleep, talk to your dentist about getting a mouth guard to protect your teeth.
- Wear a mouth guard or protective mask when playing contact sports.