Whether you were playing a contact sport or accidentally tripped and fell, cracked or chipped teeth unfortunately happen. Here’s what you should do when you crack a tooth, and how Mountain Aire Dentistry can help!

Do You Have a Cracked or Chipped Tooth?

Cracks or chips in a tooth can happen just by normal wear as we age, or it can be a result of an injury or accident. In the event something like this happens to a tooth of yours, you will experience uncomfortable symptoms, ranging from:

• Erratic pain when you chew
• Sudden pain when your tooth is exposed to hot or cold temperatures (tooth sensitivity)
• Pain that comes and goes

If you have any of these symptoms due to a cracked or chipped tooth, you’ll need to make an appointment to come see our dentist, Dr. Chris Bockrath, as soon as possible. When you experience trauma to the tooth and have the uncomfortable symptoms mentioned above, seeing the dentist as soon as possible could be what saves your tooth altogether. The sooner you see a dentist, the more likely it is that your original tooth can be saved and treated, getting you back to your regular routine in no time. However, if left untreated, further dental work will be needed. 

What Does a Cracked Tooth Look Like?

Along with the symptoms we mentioned above, there will be visible signs that you have a crack in your tooth. Healthline explains that cracks can appear as:

• Craze lines, which are small cracks in the enamel of the tooth. When a patient has this kind of crack, it typically doesn’t require any type of treatment. 
• Fractured cusp, which is a crack that typically shows up around a dental filling. It normally doesn’t affect the pulp of the tooth, so this kind of crack doesn’t cause many, if any, symptoms. 
• Cracks that extend into the gum lime, which appears as a vertical crack going up a tooth. If it hasn’t quite reached the gum line, the tooth can generally be saved. However, once the crack hits the gums, it may require the tooth to be pulled. 
• Split tooth, which will appear as a crack that travels from its surface to below the gum line. It can be split into two segments, and since this is an extensive crack, it’s unlikely the entire tooth can be saved. However, a portion of your natural tooth could be kept. 
• Vertical root fracture, which is a crack that begins below the gum line and goes up. It doesn’t come along with many symptoms unless an infection occurs. If this happens, chances are you’ll need an extraction. 

Cracked Tooth Treatment

The treatment of your cracked tooth depends on the type of crack that it is. The American Association of Endodontists explains that in many cases, a filling or crown can be placed over the damaged area of the tooth to protect it. If the tooth is chipped, it can typically be repaired by either reattaching the broken piece of tooth enamel or by bonding a tooth-colored filling or crown to fill the chipped hole. 

Dental Emergencies

Here at Mountain Aire Dentistry, while we encourage you to make recurring visits for routine cleanings and checkups, we understand that emergencies and accidents happen. If you have a dental emergency, like a chipped tooth, come see us. Dr. Bockrath provides emergency dentistry so you have a solution for all of your dental needs. The dental emergency services we provide care for include:

• Chipped or broken teeth
• Knocked-out teeth
• Cracked or fractured teeth
• Partially knocked-out teeth
• Lost or damaged dental restorations (like a filling or crown)
• An object stuck between the teeth that does not come loose with gentle flossing
• A severe, lasting toothache or tooth pain
• Injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth (the gums, lips, cheeks, or tongue)

While we provide emergency dental services, if you were involved in an accident that caused trauma to your head or neck, we recommend going to the emergency room before calling us, even if your smile was affected too. It is important to make sure you don’t have any life-threatening injuries before coming in to correct your injured smile. 

Emergency Dentistry with Mountain Aire Dentistry

Our team is passionate about helping our patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health. If you have a cracked or chipped tooth, or just have a question on what to do in case of dental emergency, please give us a call today at (303)-731-7755.