Having a small crack in your tooth may not bother you very much at first. Still, you should know that it’s important to address traumatic injuries in Ellicott City before they have a chance to evolve into something much more serious.
Cracked tooth repair can be fairly simple and mostly painless, and the alternative may very well be a painful infection and root canal therapy, so you’re going to want to take care of any cracks in your teeth as quickly as possible. If you still need more convincing, then just read this quick and easy guide to the importance of receiving endodontic treatment for a cracked tooth.
If you need treatment for any traumatic tooth injuries, contact Access Endodontics today at 410.304.7226. Dr. Lina Jarboe, Dr. Burton Waxman, and their team of dedicated dental professionals can help to make sure that your cracked teeth don’t become any bigger of an issue for you than they already are.
Common Causes of Cracked Teeth
When you think of an injured tooth, you likely think primarily of sports-related injuries. But while dental trauma is one of the most common causes of cracked teeth, you don’t necessarily need to take a hard hit to the mouth to sustain this kind of dental damage. Cracked teeth can also be caused by the following:
- Grinding of the teeth (bruxism)
- Chewing ice or gum
- Eating hard foods
- Extreme temperature changes
- Teeth weakened by dental work
A very thin hairline crack on the tooth is known as a “craze line” and is often not deep enough to lead to any sort of infection, but a deep vertical crack on the tooth can become a significant issue. If you notice that you have one, you may need cracked tooth treatment. Contact your dentist as soon as possible.
The Dangers of Ignoring Cracked Teeth
If you have a cracked tooth, you may be able to ignore it for a while. It’s not highly visible, it doesn’t affect your speech or your ability to eat, and it doesn’t cause any severe discomfort. However, a crack in your tooth can be like a tiny hole in the base of a boat.
That bacteria can eventually cause an infection on the inside of your tooth. Once that’s occurred, the only endodontic treatment for a cracked tooth that will help at all is root canal therapy. If that’s not viable, then the only other option is extraction.
With a cracked tooth, you can’t simply stick to your oral hygiene routine and expect your tooth to remain healthy. The bacteria that can enter through the crack will most likely not be removed by brushing or flossing, which means an infection may be inevitable without some kind of cracked tooth treatment.
How Infected Teeth Might Affect Your Overall Health
Yes, tooth infections are a serious matter. If your tooth becomes infected due to bacteria entering through a crack in it, that same bacteria may then begin to travel throughout the rest of your body, leading to other infections. These infections can then potentially lead to many serious medical conditions, including heart attack and stroke.
Options for Cracked Tooth Repair
The most effective treatment for your cracked tooth will depend on a few different factors, including the location of the crack, the severity of it, and whether the crack has led to any other oral health issues.
Root canal therapy and extraction are typically the available solutions if an infection has occurred. Simple bonding will often be necessary for minor cracks, but there are times when a crown or veneers are required.
Contact Access Endodontics for Cracked Tooth Treatment
If you need cracked tooth repair, contact Access Endodontics by calling 410.304.7226 or going online and filling out a form. Our team is happy to assess your condition and offer you treatment options.