Cracking the Cracked Tooth Code

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If something is wrong with your teeth, you often know about it. A toothache may mean you need a filling or a root canal. If you break or lose a tooth, there is no mistaking what the problem is! But what are the symptoms of a cracked tooth?

You may not even know that you have a cracked tooth, since the cracks aren’t visible to the naked eye, and be so fine that they don’t show up on most dental X-rays. But a crack, no matter how small can allow bacteria to penetrate your tooth. That can lead to damaged pulp, and if it is not treated, you may eventually need to have it extracted. With that in mind, what are the symptoms of a cracked tooth?

The main symptom is discomfort. This discomfort may be sharp or it may dull, but it could be very brief and you may notice it when you bite down or chew. To help our dentist, Dr. Roderick Spencer, locate the crack, make a note of where in your mouth the pain occurred. Our dentist may decide to use a filling to repair the crack, or if infection has set in, a root canal may be needed.

Any time you experience discomfort in your tooth or mouth, you should talk to our dentist. If you live in the Bozeman, Montana, area and are having trouble with one of your teeth, and you would like to schedule an appointment at Suite Dental, call 406-602-4100 today. We’ll do our best to get you in as soon as possible and get your tooth back on its feet!