The Best Ways to Soothe and Save a Cracked Tooth

A cracked tooth can happen to anyone for any number of reasons. Learn more about this dental damage so you’re prepared if it happens to you.

Causes of a Cracked Tooth

A crack in a tooth can range from small to severe. A minor crack may only affect the tooth’s enamel, while a major crack will extend from the tip of a tooth to its root. And the pain may appear as a slight sensitivity, mild discomfort, or a throbbing ache. At the first sign of a possible problem, you need to seek affordable dental care to allow a Dentist in Hudson Valley to treat your dental distress. A cracked tooth is typically caused by one of the following:

• Biting down on a very hard food, candy, ice cube, or object
• Injury related to sports or daily activities
• Trauma to the face, mouth, or jaw
• Persistent tooth grinding.
• Lack of proper and regular oral hygiene

Four Different Degrees of Cracked Teeth

According to dental care experts, the extent of the crack will determine the best treatment for a cracked tooth. Cracked teeth are divided into the following categories:

1. A Simple Cracked Tooth – These are very slight, small cracks. While these cracks are so minor that they may not require treatment, you still need to see a Dentist in Hudson Valley to examine your cracked tooth and possibly polish the crack away.
2. A Serious Cracked Tooth – This type of fracture can extend from the outer enamel of the tooth to its inner tissue or roots. It can also loosen the tooth and make gums bleed.
3. A Split Tooth – Even more severe than a serious crack, this occurs when the entire tooth splits vertically. It can damage the tooth so much that the cracked tooth may need to be extracted and replaced.
4. A Split Root – This is the most severe kind of cracked tooth because it extends through the entire tooth and causes a slit in the roots. It causes great pain, swelling, and a high risk of infection.

The Top Treatment for a Cracked Tooth

Today, there are several affordable dental care treatments available for a cracked tooth. Yet, the only way to determine the right treatment for you is to be examined by a Dentist in Hudson Valley at the first sign of a problem. Depending on the extent of dental damage, one of these treatments will be right for you:

• Dental Bonding – Reserved for slight and simple cracks, this treatment uses a tooth-colored resin to restore or reshape the cracked tooth.
• Splint – Used for more serious cracks, this involves bonding the cracked tooth to an adjacent tooth to keep it in place while the tooth’s tissue and bone heal.
• A Root Canal – Required for more severe cracks and splits, this treatment removes the damaged tissue within the tooth, and then tops it with a filling or crown.
• Tooth Extraction – Only used for the most severe cracks and splits, this involves removing the tooth and replacing it with a dental implant.

Call today to schedule your appointment or book an appointment online.