Dental Emergency: Cracked Tooth in Charles Town, WV
Cracked Tooth & Chipped Tooth Treatment in West Virginia
Charles Town Smiles provides emergency dental services to patients throughout Charles Town, WV, and the surrounding areas. Since 1986, our experienced team has provided top-of-the-line dental care to our valued patients, including emergency dental care. We understand that dental emergencies never happen when it’s convenient, which is why we are available 24/7 for your convenience. Keep reading to learn more about cracked tooth and chipped tooth dental emergencies and the treatment we offer.
What is a Cracked Tooth?
A cracked tooth, or cracked tooth syndrome, is a tooth that has fractured due to some type of trauma. The crack can be small and harmless, but if left untreated, it can worsen and cause the cracked tooth to break or split. Tooth fractures can happen to anyone but are most common in children and seniors. If you suspect your tooth is cracked, reach out to our readily available team as soon as possible.
The Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth
Cracked tooth symptoms can vary depending on what part of your tooth is cracked and how severe the fracture is. Additionally, cracked teeth don’t always cause symptoms. The primary symptoms of a cracked tooth include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Pain, primarily when chewing
- Toothache when biting or chewing
- Sensitivity to temperature changes
- Swelling around the tooth
How are Cracks Created in the Teeth?
Numerous factors can be conducive to cracked teeth. The most common factors for fractured teeth include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Trauma (such as sports injuries)
- Teeth grinding (bruxism)
- Age (for those 50 and older)
- Weakened enamel or tooth structure
- Large dental fillings (which can weaken the tooth)
- Root canals (which can weaken the tooth)
- Habits (such as chewing gum or ice)
- Biting hard foods (such as candy or popcorn kernels)
What Kind of Cracks Can Affect the Teeth?
Teeth can crack in different places. The crown is the part of your teeth that is visible above the gums, and tooth roots lie below the gums. The crown and the roots both have various layers: enamel (the hard white outer surface), dentin (the middle layer of the tooth), and pulp (the soft inner tissue that contains blood vessels and nerves). Each of these layers of teeth and their roots can be prone to cracking under certain circumstances. Treatment depends on the fracture’s severity, as well as where it has occurred. Getting treatment as soon as possible increases the chances of cracked tooth repair.
The Different Kinds of Tooth Fractures
When it comes to cracks in teeth, unfortunately, there’s more than one kind. Oftentimes, dentists will use one of the following five categories to classify a tooth fracture:
- Cracked Tooth – This is a vertical crack that extends from the biting surface of the tooth and to its gumline, though these cracks can also extend past the gumline and to the root.
- Craze Lines – Also called hairline cracks, these small cracks are thin and painless. They appear on the outer tooth enamel of the tooth.
- Split Tooth – This fracture extends from the surface of the tooth and below its gumline, splitting the tooth into two different parts.
- Fractured Cusp – These aren’t usually painful. They can form around a dental filling.
- Vertical Root Fracture – These cracks start below the gum line and travel toward the biting surface o the tooth. Unless infection occurs, these may not display symptoms.
We Offer Cracked Tooth Treatment
If one of your teeth has cracked or chipped, you may need professional treatment. In some cases, treatment for a cracked tooth may not be necessary. For example, if the tooth fracture doesn’t impact your appearance, cause pain, or extend very deeply, messing with it further may do more harm than good. Most of the time, however, treatment for a cracked tooth is needed, especially if the damage is deep. Cracked tooth treatment options include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Dental Bonding – where resin is used to fill in minor or small chips depending on their location/position
- Cosmetic Contouring – edge-rounding and polishing to smooth a minor chip in the edge of a tooth
- Root Canal – can remove the damaged pulp if tooth fracture extends to the pulp
- Dental Crown – can fit comfortably over the fractured tooth when veneers aren’t an option
- Dental Veneers – fit over the front of the cracked tooth if a lot of natural tooth remains
- Tooth Extraction – this treatment is used when the tooth root and nerves show severe damage
Contact Us Today in Case of a Dental Emergency
Suffering from cracked tooth syndrome? We’ve got you covered. If you need emergency cracked tooth repair, look no further than Charles Town Smiles. With years of experience providing patients with excellent and timely emergency care, you can trust our team in your time of need. To learn more about what constitutes a dental emergency, or to schedule an emergency dental appointment with our professional team, contact us today. We will provide you with prompt chipped tooth repair.