Cracked Teeth & Types of Cracks

Posted by Garry S. on September 22nd, 2017

Cracked or fractured teeth are common dental problems and there are various reasons why your teeth may crack. Say for example, biting on hard objects, grinding and clenching of teeth, teeth with large fillings, or teeth that have had root canal treatment. All these factors place your teeth under additional strain and make them more prone to cracking.

Symptoms of cracked tooth

• Pain while eating

• Sensitivity towards warm and cold foods

• Difficulty in identifying the location of the pain

• Pain with no obvious cause.

Different types of cracks in teeth

There are many ways in which your tooth can crack and based on the type of crack that you have, your dentist will determine which type of treatment would be suitable for you. Following are some of the most common types of cracks.

• Crazes

Crazes are generally tiny vertical cracks in the enamel that normally do not cause any pain. Crazes rarely need dental treatment but can stain over time and you may want them treated for esthetic reasons. Causes of craze lines may be nail biting, clenching or grinding teeth, using to teeth to open things, tooth trauma or even just everyday wear and tear.

• Oblique supragingival cracks

These types of cracks only affect the crown of the tooth and do not go beyond the gum line. Mostly, the affected part of the tooth eventually breaks off. You may notice sensitivity and pain on chewing or biting.

• Oblique subgingival cracks

Now, these types of cracks extend beyond your gum line. These may be painful and may require a combination of periodontal surgery and endodontic treatment. If the crack extends too far under the gum line the tooth may need to be removed.

• Vertical furcation cracks

Such type of cracks occur when the roots of your teeth separate. They almost always affect the nerve of your tooth.

• Oblique root cracks

These types of cracks do not affect the surface of the tooth at all. The damage is only noticeable below the gum line and below the jawbone. Root canal treatment may be done depending upon the proximity of the fracture to the tooth surface. However, tooth extraction is almost always the case after determining the fracture.

• Vertical apical root cracks

Such cracks occur at the apex (tip) of the root. Tooth extraction from a dental perspective isn't required, but many patients request for an extraction due to the extreme pain. Root canal therapy can just alleviate the pain and discomfort for a while.

As there are many different types and ways in how a tooth or the teeth can be cracked, they are all treated after examining and determining the kind of crack it is. When the crack is too acute that the tooth cannot be saved, then the teeth may require to be extracted. Once the tooth is extracted, you may have dental treatment options such as dental bridges,dental implants, and more that can restore the missing teeth.

If you experience tooth pain or sensitivity, consult your dentist to examine the tooth.