We are seeing more and more problems relating to cracked teeth (often but not always as a consequence of a heavily filled tooth weakening over time) so it’s something that you need to be aware of. Cracks can be found in any tooth, even one that appears otherwise healthy or unfilled.
If you or your dentist has identified that one or more of your teeth is cracked, there are a variety of options open to you, dependent on the level of damage.
The first of these is to do nothing – if the crack (or craze line) is superficial, then it may not be necessary to take any action. However, if the crack is more pronounced then it’s very likely that treatment will be required. This may involve applying a veneer or bonding the tooth with a plastic resin to fill in the crack, or when this isn’t possible, a crown may be fitted over the tooth to strengthen it.
Whatever the case, it is important to seek advice from your dentist as soon as possible – a crack left unchecked can result in an abscess or even the loss of the tooth.
