Cracked Tooth? See a Dentist – Surprising Causes

A small crack or break in a tooth is called a ‘tooth fracture.’ Teeth are made up of three layers: enamel (surface), dentin, and nerves (pulp). Pain mainly occurs when dentin and nerves are invaded. Fractures that occur in enamel cause slight cracks or fine cracks in the surface. It’s easy to feel ‘okay’ because there’s no pain, but cracks can gradually progress inward with the force of chewing.

Tooth fractures range from invisible cracks to cases where more than half of a tooth is broken. If the tooth is partially broken, it is treated with resin and inlay/onlay. If the tooth is broken near the nerve, a crown is placed after root canal treatment. Teeth that are deeply fractured vertically all the way to the root often require extraction, and implants, bridges, and dentures are then considered.

When the dentin is fractured, even if the fracture appears small on the outside, the inside is often deeply damaged. This is the stage where pain usually begins, and it is sensitive to cold water and causes a stinging pain when chewing. When it comes to fractured teeth, how far the tooth has gone is more important than how broken it is, and painless cracks are especially dangerous.

Tooth fractures occur due to external shock due to falls, traffic accidents, or collisions during sports. Sudden chewing of hard foods such as ice can also cause a tooth fracture. Lifestyle habits are one of the most important factors. Behaviors such as teeth grinding, clenching, or chewing food on only one side can cause tooth fracture.

Dental treatment history and aging can also be causes. If the remaining teeth become thin after treating a large cavity or if the teeth become dry after root canal treatment, they become vulnerable to external shocks. It is also common for teeth to suddenly break while chewing after the age of 40 to 60. Aging actually increases the risk of tooth fracture. As we age, enamel wears away, and dentin’s elasticity decreases, reducing its ability to absorb shock, causing microcracks to accumulate.

When invisible microcracks accumulate over the years, teeth suddenly break one day. Even if it looks like a small fracture or fine crack on the outside, in reality, the crack is often progressing toward the dentin or nerve, and even if there is no pain, the fracture can quickly worsen due to the force of chewing.

Visiting a dentist immediately when you feel a small break or abnormal sensation is the surest way to save your teeth for a long time and reduce the burden of treatment. Bruxism and aging are very important risk factors, so if you have bruxism, you should use a mouthpiece and correct your habit of eating hard foods and chewing on one side.

Reporter Lee Young-soo juny@kukinews.com