How Do I Know If My Tooth Has Cracked?

Tooth pain can occur for many reasons, which is why even professionals can have difficulty determining where exactly it’s coming from. If you’re trying to decide whether your tooth has cracked, we’ll look at the general symptoms and how it varies from other types of tooth pain.

What Is a Cracked Tooth?

Acracked tooth in Aitkin, MN, sometimes called a fractured tooth, can refer to different types of damage to the tooth. In some cases, you’ll see crazing lines, much like you might see on a piece of intact pottery. In other cases, a crack can extend from the biting surface into the root.

Not all cracked teeth require immediate repair, though it’s worth noting that every type of crack weakens the tooth’s structural integrity to a certain extent. Unfortunately, there is also nothing you can do to repair the tooth once it’s cracked.

How Do I Know If My Tooth Is Cracked?

If your tooth is cracked, you may be able to see the line in the tooth. If there are no visible symptoms, you might experience irregular pain while chewing or sensitivity to hot and cold foods/beverages. (Adentist in Deerwood, MN, can tell you that not every crack will appear in the scans, but there are other tests they can run.)

You may also feel localized pain in that area when you bite down and then release. If the tooth is fractured, the pieces will move around and irritate the pulp on the interior of the tooth. In the worst-case scenario, the crack can also allow bacteria into the pulp, which can eventually cause a painful infection.

How to Treat a Cracked Tooth in Deerwood

Because a cracked tooth can manifest in different ways, it’s important to talk to a professional about what’s going on under the surface. Not all cracked teeth will need immediate treatment, while others may require anything from a root canal to a tooth extraction. If you’ve noticed a change in your oral health, whether it’s physical or nerve-related, the staff at River Oaks Dental is here to help. With offices in Aitkin and Deerwood, MN, we’re here to help.