There’s something about discovering what looks like a crack in your tooth that can be quite alarming. The good news is that sometimes, it’s just a little tiny crack that won’t hurt your oral health (even if it looks somewhat unsightly). Then of course, there are serious cracks that will require serious attention. To help you sort through the details, consider a little new information, so you know you don’t need to panic. What you do need to do no matter what, however, is schedule a visit to see us when you discover a change!

Cracks Versus Craze Lines: What’s What?

A crack is a true split in the tissue of your tooth, which can expose the interior of that tooth. In most instances, you will experience discomfort if you crack your tooth, which may occur by biting into something hard or as the result of an impact. A craze line is a vertical, tiny crack in your tooth’s outermost layer (called enamel). These typically develop as the natural result of use and, though you might not like how they look, they don’t threaten your oral health.

When Cosmetic Care Helps

You might need cosmetic treatment if you are dealing with craze lines and you feel very displeased with the way your smile looks. Fortunately, we can easily camouflage the issue by whitening your teeth if discoloration is factor, with bonding, or with veneers.

When Restorative Care Becomes Necessary

If you have a crack, not a craze line, cosmetic care will not help. Instead, you will require restorative care because your oral health is in danger. You will likely require a dental crown and a root canal may become necessary, depending on the depth of the crack. See us immediately if a crack occurs!