What is a cracked tooth?
A tooth which has a crack going across it is vulnerable to fracture.
Why do teeth crack?
Undue amount of force on teeth especially during function like biting through a hard nut, or during parafunction like night-time teeth grinding or clenching can cause the teeth to crack. Old silver fillings tend to expand over time and can cause the tooth to crack.
How is a crack diagnosed?
A crack be seen by using the “transillumination” method by using a source of light to see if the light passes through the tooth. However, the best way of diagnosing a crack is through a dental microscope at high magnification. Cracks can be seen in this way going through the different layers of the tooth
How are cracks in teeth treated?
Dissecting the crack and placing a “dental bandage” inside the crack holds the cracked segments together. In some cases further protection with an “onlay” or “crown” may be necessary.
What do undiagnosed cracks lead to?
Cracks in teeth can be compared to fault line in the earth’s surface which can cause catastrophic damage at any time. An undiagnosed crack over time propagates and the tooth can split, needing it to be extracted.
