Understanding hairline tooth fracture and everything else related to it

Updated on March 26, 2020

Of the various dental problems, tooth fracture is quite common among people. When it happens, you can experience sharp pain at the time of taking a bite of your food. The pain may vanish quickly, though. The fracture can lead to a tiny crack in the affected tooth. Rupture can be of four different types, including split tooth, fractured cusp, vertical crack, and craze lines.  

In the case of the split tooth, the crack can divide the tooth into two. Larger cracks may not leave much scope for tooth protection. Fractured cusp affects the region near dental filling, not causing noticeable pain; tooth pulp may remain safe. Craze lines create tiny cracks on the teeth enamel.  It is usually painless and doesn’t need treatment. A vertical crack may appear on your tooth from up to down, sometimes even reaching into the gum line. If it happens so, tooth extraction can be recommended. Otherwise, a dentist can save your tooth.

Causes of hairline tooth fracture

Many circumstances can lead to breakage in your tooth. For example, chewing on a hard-edible item, such as hard candy, can be responsible for this. If you clench your jaw or grind teeth, the pressure from such activity can also be the culprit. In some cases, accidents, falling, and sports injury can expose your teeth to such possibilities. If you visit a reliable dentist in Kitchener, he or she may inform you that even oversized fillings can be harmful to the integrity of your teeth. It can weaken its structure.

Besides, a sudden change in mouth temperature due to the consumption of the combination of hot and cold items or aging can be other risk factors. The problem of tooth crack is more visible in people age above 50 years or so. 

Symptoms of tooth fracture

If it is a craze line fracture, you may not experience any problem. However, in other cases, there can be infection or irritation when the tooth pulp gets exposed to food, liquid, and bacteria in the mouth. You can feel pain when chewing or biting your food. Cold or hot food can also cause trouble. You may not be able to use one side of the mouth due to discomfort. You may experience random pain. If you get a vertical root fracture, the risk of infection in bone or gum can occur.

Diagnosis and treatment of tooth fracture 

If you face trouble with eating or drinking or notice any pain, it can indicate a breach. You may not be able to see it with naked eyes. However, your dentist can reach out to the exact location and tell you about its dimension. For proper treatment, the person may ask you to go through some examinations, including dye staining, bite test, periodontal test, X-ray, and so on. The techniques can vary, though. Through these processes, the doctor can analyze your problem and ensure that it doesn’t progress. He or she may suggest dental crowns, dental veneer, root canal, tooth extraction, or elimination of fractured part as some of the suitable options for the restoration of your tooth health.  

If you don’t want to go through pain and discomfort, make sure to adopt specific preventive measures for the sake of your oral health. Avoid hard food items that can damage your teeth. Don’t consume food and drinks of extreme temperatures at the same time. Gear yourself up with proper mouthguard when playing sports.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.