There can be many reasons for a cracked tooth. A factor contributing to these injuries is the weakening of the tooth caused by cavities, extensive fillings, or root canal treatment. A crack may be the result of trauma (falls, impacts), biting on hard foods (nuts, candies, coffee beans), mindlessly opening bottles with your teeth, or as a consequence of bruxism, i.e. excessive biting and grinding of the teeth.
It should be emphasized at the outset that tooth cracking can lead to serious consequences, so such cases should always be consulted with a dentist. He will conduct a clinical examination and perform diagnostic imaging - a spot X-ray or computed tomography. This will allow for a thorough assessment of the tooth condition and implementation of appropriate treatment. The condition of the tooth root may be of key importance in choosing the type of therapy. A tooth crack may affect its various structures and run in different planes.
Treatment methods
If the damage is minor and concerns only the crown, it may be sufficient to rebuild the damaged or broken fragments using a dental composite. This solution may only be a temporary solution, requiring further treatment after some time. If the fracture is not too deep and the tooth is still alive, it can be treated, and a post-root insert made, and a crown placed.
Another method of therapy are veneers, i.e. thin, delicate composite or porcelain flakes glued to the labial surface of the tooth. They allow you to correct the shape, color, and mask damage to the tooth crown. It is a two-stage treatment that requires delicate grinding of the tooth, taking impressions, installing a temporary veneer, and during the next visit, fixing the proper restoration on cement.
In the case of greater tooth damage, the most common treatment method is the installation of a dental crown. It significantly strengthens the tooth and protects it against loss by properly distributing the pressure forces when biting. A prosthetic crown can also be used when the tooth is dead. If the tooth pulp is damaged, endodontic treatment is necessary. It will protect the patient against complications such as bone atrophy or abscess. After root canal treatment, a post or crown can be placed.
Another case that should be discussed is a deep tooth crack (reaching below the gum line), involving the root. In most cases, it will be necessary to remove the tooth and introduce an intraosseous implant - an implant, as the best method of filling the cavity. Ultimately, a prosthetic reconstruction in the form of a crown will be placed on the implant. If the crack reaches the root of the tooth and it is a multi-rooted tooth, it is possible to remove one root (broken off) and place a prosthetic restoration on the remaining ones.
Once again, the seriousness of a seemingly harmless injury in the form of a crack, chipping or chipping of a tooth should be emphasized. The consequences of such neglected injuries may include inflammation, caries, loss of tooth(s) and the need for long-term treatment. Even if there are no symptoms such as throbbing pain or hypersensitivity to extreme temperatures (which always forces the patient to see a doctor), it does not mean that the injury does not require dental intervention. Only a dentist can assess this, and the sooner he does it and implements the treatment, the less invasive and extensive it may be.