Does My Cracked Tooth Really Need Repair?

Your teeth are strong. In fact, they are made from the strongest substance in your entire body. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean they are invincible. Teeth can crack, chip or break when they are weakened by disease or decay. They are also more likely to suffer damage when they endure extreme forces, such as during a traumatic injury or when you bite down on something too hard. Regardless of why your tooth was injured, it is important to recognize the need for repair.

It’s Just a Crack – It Doesn’t Hurt

While it is easy to convince patients to repair a broken or noticeably chipped tooth, it can be more difficult when the damage involves a cracked tooth. Tooth cracks, especially hairline cracks, are not typically a cosmetic threat, and they are more likely to occur on the back teeth. In some cases, the patient may not feel significant pain or discomfort. However, even a non-painful hairline crack needs to be evaluated by your dentist.

Understanding Enamel Damage

To fully understand the importance of repairing a cracked tooth, you need to realize the structural makeup of your teeth. The outer layer is called enamel. This is the strongest and most protective layer of your tooth. When the enamel is chipped, cracked or compromised in any way, the tooth becomes extra vulnerable to problems.

The layer beneath your tooth enamel is called dentin. Dentin is a softer layer and it contains microtubules (or tiny pathways) that lead to the center of your tooth. The inner pulp of your tooth is where your tooth nerves reside and where the tooth receives its nutrients to stay alive and stable. Therefore, when the enamel layer is cracked, it allows bacteria, food debris and plaque to invade your tooth and cause infection or decay. This can make your cracked tooth painful to bite down and sensitive to hot/cold, but it can also lead to an infected tooth. Infected teeth are painful and often require a root canal and crown to save the tooth at this stage.

Cracked Tooth Repair is Easy

Are you avoiding cracked tooth repair because you are dreading the time, hassle and cost of the procedure? You’ll be happy to know that simple tooth cracks are most often repaired with fast and painless measures. Composite bonding, a tooth-colored material used for fillings, can be used to repair the enamel damage and restore fully health and integrity to your cracked tooth. Dental bonding can be completed in just minutes and without the need for local anesthetics in most cases. If your tooth crack is severe or penetrated deeper layers of your tooth, a root canal may be needed.

Call Today – We Fix Teeth!

If you suspect that you have cracked your tooth, let our experts take a look at Lawrenceville Family Dental Care. Extending the life of your teeth is what we do best. Call today to book your cracked tooth repair appointment!

Posted on Behalf of Lawrenceville Family Dental Care