While you can’t always tell if you have a cracked tooth, if you feel a sharp pain when you bite down on your food which stops when you stop putting pressure on your tooth, your tooth may have a fracture. A tooth can crack for a number of reasons:

• If you chew on hard objects such as ice, hard candy, or hard nuts you can fracture a tooth.
• A blow to the mouth can crack a tooth.
• If tooth enamel is exposed to temperature extremes, your tooth can crack. So if you are eating hot soup, don’t be tempted to sip ice water with it.
• Your teeth can crack if you persistently grind or clench your teeth (also known as bruxism).

To repair a cracked tooth, Dr. Goggins or Dr. Esguerra will first examine the tooth to determine proper treatment. For example, if the tooth has minor cracks, bonding with a tooth-colored composite resin or dental filling may be all that will be required. However, if the damage is severe or affecting the tooth pulp, the tooth may require extraction, requiring a root canal.

If you are suffering from the effects of a cracked tooth, please call us at 303-586-1019 as soon as possible. Until you are seen by Dr. Goggins or Dr. Esguerra, avoid chewing on that side of your mouth, take acetaminophen or over-the-counter pain reliever as needed, and rinse with salt water for relief.  Our Denver Restorative Dentistry team in Broomfield, Colorado, is happy to help you restore your healthy smile!