Our smiles are built to last. In fact, tooth enamel — the outer surface of our teeth — is the hardest substance in the human body, stronger even than our bones. That tooth enamel can withstand a lot of wear and tear.
As we live longer, and expose our teeth to stresses like clenching, grinding or chewing on hard objects, we can put our smiles at risk. If you think you have a cracked tooth, it’s important to seek treatment quickly, before the problem gets worse. If a crack is located and treated early Dr Shapiro will be able save the tooth and prevent the crack from progressing.
How do I know if my tooth is cracked?
sharp pain when chewing possibly with release of biting pressure.
pain when your tooth is exposed to temperature extremes.
Sensitivity to sweet food.
Pain may move around and be difficult to pinpoint.
Crack may not be visible to the eye.
The sooner you visit Dr Shapiro to treat the problem the less damage will be done to your cracked tooth and the less extensive (and expensive) the treatment will be. Treatment of a cracked tooth may vary from a simple composite restoration (filling) to the need for a crown or if left too long extraction of the affected tooth and possible implant or bridge required.
Chipped tooth :
A chipped tooth is very common and is usually caused by trauma.
If the chip is superficial Dr Shapiro can repair the chip with a simple Filling (restoration) that will restore your smile instantly.
Fractured Cusp :
When a piece of a tooth’s chewing surface breaks off, often around a filling, it’s called a fractured cusp. A fractured cusp rarely damages the pulp, and usually doesn’t cause much pain. Dr Shapiro can place a crown over
the damaged tooth to protect it.
Cracked Tooth :
A cracked tooth means a crack extends from the chewing surface of your tooth vertically toward the root. The tooth is not yet separated into pieces,though the crack may gradually spread. Early diagnosis is important in order to save the tooth. If the crack has extended into the pulp, the tooth can be treated with a root canal procedure.
However, if the crack extends below the gum line, it is no longer treatable, and the tooth cannot be saved and will need to be extracted. That’s why early treatment is so important. A cracked tooth that is not treated will progressively worsen, eventually resulting in the loss of the tooth.
Early diagnosis and treatment are essential in saving these teeth.
Split Tooth :
A split tooth is often the result of the long term progression of a cracked tooth. The split tooth is identified by a crack with distinct segments that can be separated. A split tooth cannot be saved intact. The position and extent of the crack, however, will determine whether any portion of the
tooth can be saved.
The important thing to know is that the sooner you
Deal with tooth ache or tooth sensitivity the better
the outcome for your oral health, your aesthetic
result and the less expensive the treatment will
be !!!!!!!!!!!