What does it mean when you have a crack in your tooth?
When a piece of a tooth’s chewing surface breaks off, it’s called a fractured cusp. It usually doesn’t cause much pain. Cracked tooth. A cracked tooth means a crack extends from the chewing surface vertically toward the root. Early diagnosis is important in this case to save the tooth.
Where is the most common place for cracked teeth?
A cracked tooth is most common on teeth in the back of your mouth where the majority of chewing happens. All degrees of a crack can be classified under the diagnosis of “Cracked Tooth Syndrome.”
What are the different types of cracked teeth?
Cracks can appear as: Craze lines. Fractured cusp. Cracks that extend into the gum line. Split tooth. Vertical root fracture.
What causes a crack in the back of your mouth?
Cracks are a common occurrence for your molars because they are in the back and side of your mouth and absorb most of the force when you chew. Eating hard types of foods (like hard candy) and chewing on ice can lead to a cracked tooth that needs repair.
Can a craze line be a cracked tooth?
Craze lines are not serious as long as they do not penetrate to the inner surface of the tooth called dentin. I do get patients, however, who come in and are concerned that they have a cracked tooth that may require treatment. So if you look closely at your teeth in a mirror and notice tiny, vertical lines…don’t fret!
Can a cracked tooth show up on an X-ray?
The symptoms of a cracked tooth will vary depending on the type of crack and its severity. Because of the off-and-on nature of the pain and other symptoms – and the fact that cracks often do not show up on X-rays – your dentist may have some difficulty locating the tooth that is causing the problem.