Are you feeling a sharp pain in one of your teeth when you bite down or when you eat or drink something?
Your first thought might be, “Oh, great, a cavity,” but if the pain disappears quickly or seems to come and go, it could be a cracked tooth.
Cracked teeth aren’t that uncommon. In fact, it’s easier than you think to crack a tooth.
A variety of factors can cause a tooth to crack. They include:
• Chewing hard foods such as candy or nuts
• Crunching on ice
• Grinding or clenching teeth
• Accidents or injuries
• Exposing tooth enamel to extreme changes in temperature, “such as eating hot food then drinking ice water,” according to the American Dental Association (ADA)
• The eventual wearing down of the tooth structure and fillings or other restorations
In many cases it can be difficult or even impossible for you to tell whether you have a cracked tooth, as the cracks are often invisible to the naked eye and often times do not show up on a traditional X-ray. However, we can identify the problem and best course of treatment by examining your mouth and asking you questions about what’s causing you pain and where. Since fractures are often one of the most difficult problems to detect Cornerstone Dental also utilizes a 3D imaging scanner that can take a 3D image of the problem area to help ensure we are making the best diagnosis possible for our patients.
“Cornerstone Dental uses advanced dental technology, skill and experience to define how we care for each patient. Our Intra Oral Cameras allow us to not only get detailed views of your teeth, but ensure you better understand what is being discussed during your consultations.”
The treatment we advise for a cracked tooth varies depending on the size, location, and severity of the crack, but options include repairing the tooth with a filling material or capping the tooth with a crown. The worst case scenario is if the crack goes too deep it may require us to extract the tooth, luckily with our advanced technology and techniques an extracted tooth can be replaced with an implant.
As with any dental problem, the sooner we’re able to diagnose and treat a cracked tooth, the better. Delaying treatment will only make the problem worse in the long run.
If you think you might have a cracked tooth, call Cornerstone Dental today at 304.267.6059 to schedule an appointment.
Are You Searching For A Martinsburg Area Dentist For You Or Your Family?
If you’re searching for an experienced dentist please feel free to contact us online or call our Martinsburg, West Virginia dental office directly at 304.267.6059 to schedule your appointment. We provide a wide range of general dentistry care as well as more involved dentistry services for patients throughout the Martinsburg area and look forward to you joining the Cornerstone Dental family.