Cracked Tooth

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Cracked Tooth

A cracked tooth can be subtle, something your dentist recognizes during a routine dental checkup. Other cracked teeth are obvious and indicate that you have a serious oral health problem that needs attention right away. Whatever the circumstances, a cracked tooth is a dental emergency that requires immediate attention from your Ladson, SC, dentist at Ingleside Family Dental.

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cracked tooth causes

Potential Causes Of A Cracked Tooth

Tooth enamel is super strong and durable, but it can break under the wrong kind of pressure. In most cases, you know the exact moment the problem occurs, and in other cases the crack may develop gradually. Either way, you have a problem.

Some of the most common causes of a cracked tooth are:

  • Biting down wrong on a hard food
  • Chronic teeth grinding
  • Deteriorating dental work
  • Taking a hit to the mouth
  • Using your teeth to open something

All Cracked Teeth Are A Dental Emergency

Hairline cracks can develop on the outer tooth enamel, but they can also start within the depths of a tooth. If your dentist doesn’t find the problem first at a checkup, you certainly will when you experience sharp pain while eating or find yourself with a throbbing toothache. In the latter, the problem is often because bacteria infiltrated the tooth and caused an infection.

When you arrive for a dental emergency appointment, your dentist will examine your mouth, take x-rays, and deliver a diagnosis so the problem can be addressed as quickly as possible. It’s important to determine how deep the problem goes so the right repair can follow, including solutions like:

  • Cosmetic tooth bonding: A small surface crack on a tooth can be filled with cosmetic tooth bonding which protects the tooth from deterioration or invasion.
  • Dental crown: A large crack needs a large repair, and a dental crown covers the entire tooth. The crown is customized to blend in with the rest of your teeth to look natural.
  • Root canal therapy: Tooth pain is a sign that a cracked tooth has become infected. To stop this pain, the infected pulp is removed and the root canals are cleaned and filled to deliver relief. Then the tooth is capped with a dental crown.
  • Tooth extraction: In the very worst case, when a tooth is so deeply damaged inside or outside that it cannot be repaired with a dental restoration, tooth extraction may be necessary. This is always your dentist’s last choice.
cracked tooth emergency
cracked tooth mouthguard

Ways To Prevent A Cracked Tooth

Sometimes, a cracked tooth just happens. The enamel may be weak or there is an area that is hit the wrong way at the wrong time. In most cases, though, cracked teeth can be avoided if you prioritize your oral health:

  • See your dentist every six months: Never miss a dental checkup and cleaning. A cracked tooth can be diagnosed early before it has any chance to cause problems.
  • Get a customized mouthguard: If you grind your teeth every night, your chances of cracked teeth go up tremendously. A mouthguard offers protection from cracks and other uncomfortable side effects of teeth grinding like headaches and pain.
  • Be careful about what you eat: Some foods seem like they’re designed to break teeth, so make good choices before you bite down on a piece of ice or hard candy.
  • Don’t use your teeth as a tool: Scissors and knives are intended for opening packages, not teeth. You can crack a tooth in a heartbeat if you bite down on something that isn’t food.

Get Emergency Dental Care For A Cracked Tooth From Your Ladson Dentist

If you have a cracked tooth, take it seriously. Contact Ingleside Family Dental in Ladson, SC right away and find out if you need an emergency dental visit.

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4.9
Lyudmyla S.
Update: Another smooth visit. Could not recommend more!

Convenient hours and office location. I went there for a second opinion on a complicated issue and stayed for keeping up and cleaning and fillings.

The dentist, Dr. Mathew, is caring, honest and extremely qualified, unlike the other dentists who exaggerated what the amount of work. I wish I had switched sooner.

My hygienist is extremely experienced thorough and simply awesome - she does such an amazing job!

The only place in North Charleston/Ladson that I seriously highly recommend.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words Lyudmyla. We appreciate you taking your time to share your experience with us. We look forward to seeing you in your future visits with us. Thank you.
Sudarshana S.
Edit: it has been almost four years Dr. Matthews is taking care of me. I love the compliment professional service I receive from this practice. No problems whatsoever. She sees potential problems and proactively takes care of them and my teeth health has been excellent.
Long story short: Dr. Mathews literally saved my life.
Long story: During pandemic, I found Ingelside family dental from a well respected friend of mine. My dentist had closed at the time. None of the dentists till then have detected any cavities either. During my first appointment I was pleasantly surprised at the length Ingelside went to take precautions for safety during pandemic. In the first visit Dr. Mathews detected three cavities, one I have had suspicion about myself. She took care of two of them, and asked me to consult an oral surgeon to remove one wisdom tooth with serious decay. I said yes, and it was pandemic and promptly ignored her advice. Come 2021, I had a series of health issues, including old sport injuries waking up. To the extent I spent almost 1k on orthro and other remedies, while Dr. Mathews literally asking me to take care of that tooth. When she saw what I filled up about my new problems, she suggested it might all be worked out as serious inflammation can cause old injuries hurt. She and her office made all arrangements to get my tooth extraction, and Viola all my problems disappeared. I am now able to enjoy my life without wincing in my joint pains. Thank you Ingelside family dental!
Devante B.
Great experience! 10/10 recommend. I will see you guys next week for the second half of my deep clean ! Thank you guys so much !
Monica D.
I needed a wisdom tooth removed and I have a phobia of losing teeth but the entire team went above and beyond to help me feel comfortable with the procedure and explained the process clearly. My favorite part was when I got to put on my favorite music! It settled my nerves completely and was able to get the tooth removed with no pain! Thank you again to everyone at Ingleside Family Dental you guys rock!
Deana
I have had such a wonderful experience here. Everyone is so friendly and helpful!! I hadn’t been to the dentist in 10 years and was terrified to come. Dr Matthew and Kim and Mary have all been fantastic. I had to have deep cleanings to get my oral health back on track and they have taken such great, gentle care of me.
I will recommend this office to any and everyone looking for kind, efficient, and friendly dental care! 💓💕🫶🏻
Sandra F.
Had my crown put in today, pain free. Dr. Mathews and Diego did a great jpb, always accomodating times when needed!
Tania O.
Great experience !!!!! Everyone and everything just great. 100% recommended !!
Ateshia B.
Great experience as my first time coming here they have worked with me squeezing me in even when they had a full schedule. Staff has been amazing.

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