Cracked tooth syndrome is a serious dental condition leading to minor cracked or severe broken tooth pain. Your Brooklyn, NY, dental specialist brings extensive cosmetic dentistry experience to bear when performing cracked and broken tooth repair. You don’t have to wait until your crooked front teeth cause problems before getting the dental treatment you deserve. Contact Broadway Family Dental for a consultation today.
How Teeth Get Cracked
Cracked tooth syndrome (CTS) happens when a tooth has a crack but isn’t quite broken. CTS can lead to a broken tooth if left alone for too long. You’ll normally feel pain, alerting you to seek care. The actual crack can vary in size and direction. Sometimes you’ll see it yourself, while other times, you won’t.
Occasionally, a crack can be very small and not even show up on an X-ray. While normally preventable, cracked tooth repair is an option.
There are many ways to get a cracked tooth, including:
- Playing sports without a mouth guard
- Using your teeth to open something
- Large cavities that weaken your teeth
- Chewing on something other than food
- Oral piercings usually made of metal
Remember that even while playing a non-contact sport, there’s likely to be a contact of some sort. And while opening that bag of chips or yogurt tube with your teeth probably won’t crack them, don’t use your teeth as a bottle opener.
According to the American Dental Association, the top nine foods that damage your teeth are hard candies, ice, citrus, coffee, dried fruit, potato chips, soda, alcohol, and sports drinks. You shouldn’t be afraid to eat or drink, just know that abusing your teeth is likely to cause damage that can lead to cracked tooth pain.
How to Tell If Tooth Is Cracked?
One of the most obvious cracked tooth symptoms is pain. If in pain, don’t wait, call the best dentist in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Dekhtyar, for same-day emergency appointment.
Other symptoms that can come along with cracked tooth pain include:
- Pain while chewing but not with every bite
- Pain while biting a certain way
- Pain while eating certain foods
- Sensitivity to cold temperatures
- Headaches
- Ear pains
It can be hard to diagnose cracked tooth syndrome since the symptoms aren’t always consistent. Also, you don’t normally think of a cracked tooth causing an earache. Your molars and premolars are most commonly affected, so be on the lookout for pain from that area.
When a cracked tooth doesn’t receive care, it can lead to a broken tooth. Just like getting a cracked tooth, having decay in your tooth already can make it more prone to breaking. Broken tooth pain can be pretty bad immediately after it happens. An over-the-counter pain reliever and a quick rinse with saltwater can help. If the break is sharp, cover it with paraffin wax or sugar-free gum so that you don’t cut your tongue. Broken tooth repair is pretty easy these days, so give the dentist a call as soon as possible.
Read more: Warning Signs Your Tooth Infection Has Spread
Cracked or Broken Tooth Repair
A broken or cracked tooth occurs due to age, teeth grinding, trauma, and other factors. You may not have any symptoms of a broken tooth. Or you may notice pain, sensitivity, and swelling. Our family dentist has several methods of treating a fracture, depending on the location and severity of the crack.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the two age groups most prone to cracked teeth are:
- 19 to 40 years old
- 60 and above
But no matter your age, you don’t want a cracked or broken tooth ruining your smile. Many situations lead to cracked or broken teeth — from playing sports to biting down on something you shouldn’t have. Just having overly crooked front teeth can lead to cracks. Your Brooklyn dentist can help come up with solutions to straighten your teeth. But if left untreated, any tooth issues can impact the overall health of your mouth.
Read more: Broken Tooth, Root Still In Gum: What To Do?
Patient Experience
Google ReviewsDr. Ella Dekhtyar will always be on hand to support and guide you throughout the recovery process. Your health and safety have always been our top priorities. Hence, our team will take all the necessary measures to safeguard you against potential complications and guarantee swift and healthy recovery.
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How to Fix a Cracked Front Tooth?
Although you have a few options for repairing a cracked front tooth, dental bonding is the most commonly used treatment for fractured teeth that are visible. Bonding uses a tooth-colored composite resin which makes it the perfect solution to repair a fractured tooth that can be seen when you smile. It can seal or fill in the crack while resembling the natural color of your teeth.
Compared to other cracked tooth syndrome treatment options, bonding is the least expensive and can often be done in a single visit. This material isn’t as strong as others which is why it’s mainly used only in cracked front tooth repair since these teeth don’t take as much pressure when biting. Your dentist may recommend other treatment options for cracked molar repair.
Read more: Do You Need a Root Canal? 7 Telltale Symptoms
How to Fix a Cracked Tooth?
You should get your teeth checked out immediately after a break or chip. Not only does this mean less time in pain, but also less chance of infection and easier treatments. There are ways to both prevent and treat CTS or broken teeth.
While fixing crooked front teeth is generally considered cosmetic, it can help prevent unnecessary pressure in your mouth. Both broken tooth repair and cracked tooth repair have five main treatments.
Depending on the severity of the crack or break, you have the following options:
- Dental bonding. Your dentist applies a putty-like liquid under UV light. It’s then shaped and polished to match your other teeth. Bonding usually lasts up to 10 years.
- Tooth Crowns. Perhaps the most common treatment to repair breaks, a dental crown is a cap that covers and prevents you from losing a damaged tooth.
- Teeth Veneers. With good care, a veneer tooth covering can last up to 30 years. A wonderful aesthetic dental option, they’re made to match your mouth almost perfectly.
- Root canal or implant. These are generally the last resort for teeth damaged beyond cosmetic and general repair.
Don’t suffer from your broken tooth pain, see a dentist at a family dentistry clinic in Broadway. There are many options for treating tooth damage. While you can’t always prevent a broken tooth, you can fix it before it leads to something more serious.
What Is the Prognosis of Broken or Cracked Front Tooth Repair?
The prognosis greatly depends on the severity of the injury, quality of treatment rendered, and delay in treatment if any. The favorable result of the tooth fracture is the normal healing of the periodontal tissues and the pulp. In general, the healing process takes around 1 to 2 weeks. Better prognosis can be expected if the fracture is restricted to the enamel, while deeper, untreated fractures may lead to abscess and infection.
Dr. Ella Dekhtyar will always be on hand to support and guide you throughout the recovery process. Your health and safety have always been our top priorities. Hence, our team will take all the necessary measures to safeguard you against potential complications and guarantee swift and healthy recovery.
Do you have any questions for Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY dentist Dr. Ella Dekhtyar about cracked tooth repair or broken tooth pain? Would you like to schedule an appointment with the top dentist in Brooklyn, Dr. Dekhtyar of Broadway Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, please contact our office for a consultation.
Dr. Ella Dekhtyar is an ABGD-certified cosmetic and family dentist who strives to provide the best and most appropriate dental care using the latest cutting-edge technology and treatment. Dr. Dekhtyar has more than 20 years of experience creating beautiful and healthy smiles, backed by receiving multiple awards, including America’s Best Dentist and New York Magazine Best Dentists in 2010 & 2012, and her collaboration with prominent media outlets.
Recognized as one of the most highly regarded dentists in the Bushwick and Bedford-Stuyvesant community, Dr. Dekhtyar operates in several languages, including English, Spanish, as well as Russian, and provides highly praised aesthetic and functional results in a welcoming and relaxing environment.
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