Do you often feel a sharp pain in the teeth when you eat something? If this is true, you might have a hairline crack in your teeth. Keep reading to find causes of cracked tooth, the associated symptoms, and how to treat them.
What Is a Hairline Tooth Fracture?
Hairline teeth fracture can be described as tiny cracks in the tooth. Here are a few types of cracks that you can expect on your teeth.
- Craze lines
- Split tooth
- Vertical crack
- Fractured Cusp
What Causes Hairline Crack In Teeth?
There are several causes of hairline tooth fracture, such as:
- Biting on hard candy or ice cube (any hard object)
- Too sudden temperature changes in the mouth. Eating hot and cold foods or drinks without much gap
- The pressure generated from teeth grinding
- Dental trauma due to fall, bike accident, or sports injury
- Too large fillings
- Age is an important factor – people who are 50 or more years old are primary victims
Symptoms of a Hairline Tooth Fracture
Hairline crack in teeth does not always come with symptoms. But if you experience these signs, know that you have a cracked tooth.
- Hot or cold sensitivity
- Pain when chewing
- Inflamed gums
- Pain that comes and goes
A hairline tooth fracture is painful because the pressure of biting opens the crack. When you’re done with biting, the pressure reverts, the crack closes again, giving you another spike of pain. Though the cracks are extremely tiny, upon opening, the sensitive tooth pulp is revealed. A damaged or infected pulp might need a root canal to stay alive.
How to Diagnose a Hairline Crack In Teeth
It’s not at all easy to detect a cracked tooth because the crack is microscopic. When you visit your dentist, these are options for diagnosis:
- Visual examination
- Periodontal probing
- Physical examination
- X-ray
- Dental dye
Treatment for Cracked Tooth
Many factors influence the hairline tooth fracture treatment, such as the location of the crack, its size, and the extent to which it has reached the gum line. Your dentist has the following options to get you out of cracked tooth pain.
Crown. A crown is an artificial tooth cap made of porcelain or ceramic material. It is placed on the compromised tooth to hide its defects.
Bonding. This process involves filling the crack with a plastic resin.
Root canal. If the pulp of your tooth is damaged, a root canal can save the tooth.
Removal. When severe damage is inflicted, and the tooth, nerves, and root are not good, the only option left is tooth extraction.
Visit Us Today!
If you’re a victim of sharp, throbbing pain when chewing or biting, chances are you’ve got a hairline crack in your teeth. Schedule an appointment with the dental office near you so you can hit the road to quick relief. If you live in Houston, Texas, and searching for a dentist at Highway 6, E Little York Rd Ste 300, or Porter, visit Hermosa Dentistry. To get in touch, call one of our locations.