Welcome back to find out how Hartwell Dentistry diagnoses cracked teeth and what treatments we offer.

Diagnosing a crack in a tooth:

We classify cracks into simple or complex.

Symptoms will depend on the size and how long the crack has been in the tooth as well as whether the crack is simple or complex.

Diagnosing CTS can sometimes be difficult as the majority of time cracks cannot be seen with a naked eye.

Hence ; A radiographic image may be needed to check for decay.

A bite test to see where the affected part of the tooth is.

Cold test to check the health of the nerve.

Removal of the old filling to look for internal cracks

 Treatment for a cracked tooth:

Treatment depends on the complexity of the crack.

For simple cracks, treatment involves removing the existing filling and the damaged or weakened part of the tooth. More likely than not, the replacement filling is that of a crown as there is generally not much tooth structure left afterwards.

Complicated/complex crack usually involves damage to the pulp.

When teeth are faced with complicated cracks, nerve treatment is indicated.

If the crack has gone right through a tooth, the tooth is split. Removal and replacement by using implants or bridges may be indicated.

If a cracked tooth is left untreated, a “simple crack” may become a “complex crack” and further treatment like root canal therapy may be needed.

 If complicated cracks are left untreated, the tooth maybe lost. 

At Hartwell Dentistry, we emphasize on prevention. When we do a thorough examination on your teeth, we assess teeth for cracks. Prevention is what we prefer. We like to pick things up before they become a major and expensive issue.