Individuals with cracked teeth can experience a range of symptoms such as pain during mastication, heightened sensitivity to temperature extremes, and a sudden discomfort upon releasing the bite. What makes diagnosing dental fractures tricky is the sporadic nature of the pain, which doesn’t always present constantly, and may mislead one regarding the true source of the dental distress.
When you chew, the fractured segments of a tooth may shift, leading to discomfort as the tooth’s inner pulp becomes agitated. Conversely, once the pressure of the bite is alleviated, the fracture may snap shut, causing a jolt of pain. If left unresolved, the pulp can sustain damage, leading to persistent pain that doesn’t necessarily depend on jaw movement. Without intervention, such cracks may also precipitate an infection in the tooth’s soft inner tissue, potentially impacting the adjacent gum tissue and bone structure.
Identifying Various Dental Fractures
- Hairline Enamel Cracks – Minor fissures impacting just the enamel, the tooth’s outer layer, are known as craze lines. These are commonly encountered in adults and do not usually necessitate treatment given their cosmetic nature and lack of impact on dental integrity.
- Cuspal Fractures – A weakened tooth cusp may fracture, sometimes requiring removal by a dentist or naturally breaking away. This kind of fracture seldom impairs the dental pulp, and thus typically does not demand a root canal procedure. Dentists often opt to protect the integrity of the tooth following such an occurrence with a dental crown.
- Full Tooth Fracture – This serious form of cracking begins at the tooth’s chewing surface and progresses toward, and possibly beyond, the gum line into the root. Injuries to the pulp are a frequent result, necessitating root canal therapy. If neglected, the progression of the fracture could culminate in tooth loss, underscoring the importance of prompt attention.
- Segmented Tooth – Oftentimes, a cracked tooth which hasn’t received timely treatment evolves into a segmented tooth, characterized by a cleavage that bisects the tooth into clearly defined parts. The feasibility of salvaging segments of such teeth hinges on the specifics of the fracture.
- Root-Initiated Dental Fracture – A fracture that sets its roots at the tooth’s foundation and climbs towards the biting surface can be especially problematic due to its often subtle symptomatology, potentially eluding timely detection. Addressing this issue might involve endodontic surgery to remove the fractured root in an attempt to salvage parts of the tooth, or in severe cases, necessitate its complete extraction.
