Cracked Teeth

The Causes…
Teeth may crack for a variety of reasons:
- Biting down on something hard may cause a tooth to crack.
- Accidents may cause trauma to a tooth.
- A high level of stress or chewing pressure on a tooth may cause it to crack.
- Loss of tooth structure through wear or the restoration of large areas of decay is a common condition that may result in cracks.
- Extreme temperature changes, like those experienced when one eats hot food and then drinks ice water, may cause stress on a tooth that could lead it to crack. 

How can you tell that a tooth is cracked?
It can often be difficult to tell.  It may be a hairline crack, which often does not even show up on x-rays.  You can help us detect cracks by noting any sensitivity to hot and cold and any pain that you experience.  These may be signs that your tooth is cracked. 

Why is a cracked tooth often painful?
When a tooth is cracked, biting pressure may cause pain.  Often, a crack irritates the sensitive pulp of the tooth.

How can cracked teeth be treated?
Bonding and crowns can often be used to treat cracked teeth.  In more extreme cases, it may be necessary to extract the tooth.