Effective Treatments for a Cracked Tooth

A crack in your tooth might be merely cosmetic at first. However, over time, cracks can widen and deepen, making the inner part of your tooth vulnerable to bacteria, decay, and infection.

At A Caring Dental Group in Cleveland, Ohio, Benedict Kim, DDS, and his team provide safe, caring, and compassionate dental care for cracked teeth and other dental issues. A cracked tooth is a dental emergency, and our experienced dental experts are here to help.

Anatomy of a cracked tooth

Your tooth is made up of four layers. 

On the outside is the enamel — the top white layer that gives your teeth their pearly appearance. 

Next is the thicker layer of dentin — a hard yellow substance that makes up the bulk of your tooth. 

The dentin protects the vulnerable inner layer called the pulp, where all the nerves and blood vessels live. When you crack through the protective outer layers of your teeth, the pulp can become irritated and painful.

Inflamed pulp swells and presses in the nerve endings in your tooth, which can cause significant pulsing pain and sensitivity to temperature and pressure. 

Untreated, a cracked tooth can become a serious issue.

The final layer that covers the root of your tooth and helps anchor it to your jawbone is called cementum. Gum disease and tooth decay can negatively affect the cementum, as can deep cracks in your tooth that run vertically down to the root.

Types of tooth cracks  

In many cases, Dr. Kim can save your cracked tooth. It depends on where the crack is, its extent, and the type.

Craze lines

Craze lines are the only kind of tooth crack you can safely ignore. These are shallow, only affect the top layer of enamel, and can barely be seen. Dr. Kim will let you know if a crack is safe to ignore.

Fractured cusp

A very large filling that eventually breaks from years of repeated pressure can cause a horizontal crack. Dr. Kim can generally save your tooth by replacing the filling with a new restoration.

Above-the-gumline cracks

Vertical cracks that don’t reach below your gum line can usually be treated, and the tooth can be saved with a restoration. Dr. Kim can advise you on your options.

Below-the-gumline cracks

If you have a crack that extends into or solely exists below the gumline, it’s unlikely that Dr. Kim can save your tooth. He can offer you a partial denture (bridge) to cover the gap or, better yet, a dental implant to replace the lost tooth and root.  

Effective treatments for a cracked tooth 

Dr. Kim offers several possible solutions for cracked teeth.  

Bonding

A shallow crack can be bonded with a composite resin that can be shaped and colored to look just like your original tooth. Bonding can prevent a crack from widening or deepening.  

Crowns

Dental crowns are the most common restoration. They cap the upper surface and sides of your tooth. This will hold your tooth tightly together in case of one or more vertical cracks, keeping them from fracturing further.  

Root canal

If a crack has reached the pulp inside your tooth, Dr. Kim performs a root canal to remove the contaminated or infected pulp and replace it with a sterile material before finishing with a crown restoration. 

Do you have a cracked tooth? Get it checked out as soon as possible. Contact our office at 216-446-6977 or book an appointment online today.