Keeping Your Teeth for a Lifetime

Our teeth are affected by a variety of environmental circumstances, causing crazelines and crack in the enamel. A crazeline is a surface crack, limited to the outer enamel of the tooth and usually requires no treatment. A crack is a deeper fracture in a tooth, which is usually symptomatic and does require treatment.

Cracks can occur from a variety of causes, including years of bruxism or grinding, accidents, trauma, chewing ice, or from large metal restorations. Metal fillings expand and contract at a different rate than enamel, and frequently cause cracks in the teeth. Symptoms can include cold-hot discomfort, as well as pain when chewing on the tooth, as it causes movement of the cusps.

Sometimes cracks are difficult to diagnose even with examination of x-rays. Treatment varies with the severity of the crack, but often placing a full crown over the tooth will add support. This support helps to spread the chewing forces over the entire surface of the tooth, protecting it from full fracture and the need for extraction.

Once a tooth has fractured, options for correction include the possible placement of a crown, root canal therapy, if the nerve is involved with subsequent placement of a buildup, a crown, or possible extraction of the tooth.

Early detection of cracks can save you time, money, and the unfortunate loss of natural teeth.