Some dental issues, such as a knocked-out tooth or a broken crown, are relatively easy to spot. And while you may think that a cracked tooth would also be difficult to overlook, the truth is that many people have trouble spotting this dental problem. To give yourself a better chance at recognizing a tooth fracture, take a look at the common causes and symptoms of cracked teeth.
What Causes a Tooth to Crack?
Several behaviors and incidents can lead to a crack, also known as a fracture, in one of your teeth. In some cases, simply chewing on a hard object or type of food, such as candy or ice, can cause a crack to develop. Habits that are sometimes related to stress, including tooth grinding or jaw clenching, can also make your teeth more susceptible to fractures. Occasionally, an accident or forceful trauma may lead to a cracked tooth.
What Are the Signs That Your Tooth is Cracked?
A crack in your tooth can be hard to detect simply because these fractures are often invisible to the human eye. Hairline cracks may not even appear on X-rays. So, how can you tell if your tooth is fractured? Look out for localized pain that flares up when you bite into food or when you expose your teeth to hot or cold temperatures.
Can you see a cracked tooth on an X-ray?
In many cases, small cracks in teeth are hard to spot on X-rays because the tooth might not be split clearly by the crack. X-rays are able to show instances when bone loss has occurred or when there is some infection near the tooth, which might indicate some crack, but X-rays do not often reveal fine fractures. Dentists usually rely on symptoms coupled with visual examination in order to confirm a cracked tooth. Special tools or dyes are sometimes within their combination with their methods.
What Steps Should You Take?
There are several treatments that your dentist can use to repair a cracked tooth, including bonding, placing a crown, or performing a root canal. The type of treatment your dentist recommends will depend on the location and severity of the tooth fracture, so it’s best to schedule an appointment as soon as you suspect that you may have a crack in your tooth.
