A cracked tooth can be surprisingly easy to overlook. Many cracks that can appear in teeth are invisible to the naked eye, and hairline cracks often aren’t visible even on an x-ray. Despite this, a cracked tooth is not a minor problem. A crack in a tooth can become a major issue if it isn’t addressed, so you should contact your Vienna, MO dentist if you suspect that you have one.
What are the causes of a cracked tooth?
There can be a lot of different ways to crack a tooth. Firstly, if you grind your teeth either when you are stressed or when you are asleep, you may be making your teeth more susceptible to cracking. Trauma to the face or head is the leading cause. But you may also crack a tooth by biting down on something hard like candy, certain kinds of nuts, or a piece of ice.
What are the Signs of a damaged tooth?
Since cracks in teeth are often hard to spot, you are far more likely to feel a crack before you see it. If you feel localized pain in your mouth that gets significantly worse when you chew on it or expose your teeth to anything too hot or cold, you could have a crack that needs to be fixed. Fortunately, repairing a cracked tooth isn’t difficult. Drs. Barnhart at Barnhart Dental can repair a cracked tooth with bonding, a crown, or a root canal. The treatment will depend on the severity of the crack and where it is located, but it can usually be repaired if you act quickly.
Please contact us and schedule an exam if you suscept you have a cracked tooth. You may also ask about grinding your teeth and treatment options to help protect your teeth.
