Although the teeth are the hardest part of the human body, but when they are hit or bite something hard, it can still crack or break. Cracked teeth can cause pain when chewing, and pain when chewing consuming eatan and drinkancold or hot.
Complaints due to cracked teeth that are felt by each person can be different. Not only pain or pain in the teeth, cracked teeth can also cause swelling of the gums. All these symptoms certainly cause discomfort in the mouth.
Causes of Cracked Teeth
Teeth can crack for a variety of reasons. Apart from being impacted during a driving accident or playing sports, cracked teeth can also be caused by:
- The habit of biting hard objects, such as biting a pencil or chewing ice cubes.
- Unfilled cavities or improper fillings.
- The surrounding teeth are toothless, so an intact tooth is put under more pressure when chewing.
- Consumption of food or drink that is too hot or cold.
- Bruxism or grinding of teeth while sleeping.
How to Treat Cracked Teeth?
Treatment of a cracked tooth depends on how severe the condition is. To assess the severity of a tooth fracture, the dentist will ask the patient about the symptoms he feels and the cause of the cracked tooth. After that, the dentist will perform a dental examination and dental X-rays.
After conducting an examination, the dentist will determine the appropriate treatment to treat the cracked tooth. There are several ways to deal with cracked teeth, namely:
Tooth filling
If the part of the cracked or broken tooth is not too large, the dentist will perform a dental filling. These fillings are made of a composite material that is the same color as natural teeth. In addition to improving the function of teeth, fillings will also improve the appearance of the teeth, especially if the cracked tooth is in the front.
Installation crown tooth
Installation crown Dental surgery is performed if the part of the tooth that is cracked or broken is large enough. There are several types of materials crown or denture crowns, namely porcelain, ceramic, and metal. The manufacturing process can take up to several weeks.
If the cracked tooth reaches the nerve cavity of the tooth (dental pulp), it is necessary to perform root canal treatment before it is placed crown tooth.
Tooth extraction
Tooth extraction is a last resort. Tooth extraction will be carried out if the damage that occurs can no longer be treated, for example if the crack has reached the root of the tooth or there is a vertical crack from the top of the tooth to the tip of the tooth root.
In addition to relieving pain and preventing more severe damage, treatment for cracked teeth also aims to improve tooth function so that it remains comfortable when chewing.
If you experience a cracked tooth, immediately consult a dentist to get the right treatment. If left untreated, cracked teeth are at risk of causing infection that can spread to the gums and bones.
Written by:
drg. Arni Maharani(Dentist)