cracked tooth Archives - Ryan Perry, DDS

My dentist doesn’t know what to do for my cracked tooth

Posted on April 30, 2021 by AllSmiles.

One of my right lower molars has a filling in it. The tooth cracked last Friday, but my dentist’s office is closed on Friday. I found an appointment with another dentist to look at it and see if anything needed to be done to save it. The dentist said it didn’t look like I would lose it, so I followed up with my dentist on Monday. My dentist then referred me to an endodontist who suggested that I get the filling replaced with a crown. My dentist wanted the endodontist to remove the filling to see the depth of the crack. When I returned to my dentist, he tried to mend the crack. Now the tooth is very sensitive. My dentist does not want to put a crown over the tooth. I suggested that he refer me to another endodontist. My dentist seems a little clueless, but maybe because he is young and in a big practice. Anyway, should I go with a crown or see another specialist? – Thank you. Clay from MS

Clay,

Dr. Perry would need to examine and x-ray your tooth for an accurate diagnosis. Cracks in teeth can be tricky, but we will provide some insight. You were wise to see a dentist right away to ensure your tooth was stable enough to see your regular dentist.

Types of Cracks in Teeth

Cracks in teeth have varying degrees of severity. But cracks differ from fractures. When tooth pieces move independently, the tooth is fractured.

Types of tooth cracks

Superficial crack in the enamel
Deep crack beneath the enamel
Crack into the tooth pulp
And tooth cracks can vary in location and can be vertical or horizontal.

Restoring a Cracked Tooth

There are different ways to protect your tooth depending on the extent of the crack. But if your tooth is sensitive, it may be infected. Your dentist or an endodontist will need to determine if root canal treatment is required.

Porcelain onlay – An onlay is a custom-made restoration that covers a portion of a tooth. If you have a horizontal crack on just one cusp, or peak, of your tooth, an onlay can cover it. But an onlay is not strong enough to stabilize a vertical crack.
Gold onlay – Gold is durable, and a gold onlay can cover the entire chewing surface of a tooth to protect it.
Dental crown – It will cover and protect the entire tooth.

Consider Getting a Second Opinion

Your dentist and the endodontist disagree on which treatment is best for your tooth. Consider getting a second opinion from another dentist. You can also ask your dentist for a referral to another endodontist for a second opinion.

Ryan Perry, DDS of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.

Does my son’s broken tooth need an emergency dentist?

Posted on January 31, 2019 by alliotte.

My son slid into third base and was hit by the ball last night. The force of the ball broke one of his upper front teeth and cracked the other. We took him to the dentist today, but he indicated he could not make an appointment to fix the problems for several months. I want it fixed now and am wondering if we should see an emergency dentist. Is this necessary, or would it be best to wait for the tooth to lose its sensitivity?

Thank you,
Rachel

Rachel,

Your son should be seen by an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Waiting will do you/him no good. If you have have piece that broke off, that will be even better. If you can find an emergency dentist who is also an expert cosmetic dentist, that would be the best case scenario. You don’t want too much time to pass, but you also need to be sure you find someone who has the experience to remedy this issue. You see, you want the broken tooth to look good and natural, and match the other front tooth. However, if you no longer have the broken piece of the tooth, direct dental bonding would be the next best method, depending on where the damage is on the other tooth.

This post is brought to you by Baton Rouge emergency dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Is a partial crown or a full crown better for a cracked tooth?

Posted on April 12, 2018 by Travis Wachendorf.

When I was eating popcorn the other night, I cracked one of my back teeth on the bottom. I can see the crack when I look at the tooth in the mirror. Because I don’t have a lot of money, I have been trying to research how to fix it the cheapest way and have found information about crowns and partial crowns to fix it. Can you tell me which is going to be best for me?

Thanks,
Rhett, West Virginia

Dear Rhett,

This is difficult to answer without seeing your tooth. There are different types of cracked teeth, some of which are hardly noticeable and some that warrant a trip to the emergency dentist. You may have cracked just the enamel on the surface, or the crack may go down into the middle part of the tooth that houses the pulp. The crack may go just across one corner or may go all the way across the tooth. The point of treating a cracked tooth is to prevent it from fracturing or getting further damaged, and also preventing infection.

How to fix a cracked tooth?

Because of the risk of additionally damaging the tooth, a full crown is typically the treatment preferred by dentists. This a more long-term approach to protecting the tooth because it completely covers the tooth.

A partial crown, or onlay, is an option only for certain types of cracks in a tooth. Onlays cover the surface of the tooth used for chewing, not the whole tooth. For minor cracks, an onlay may work if it is made of a good material. A gold onlay is the most durable for any crack in the surface of the tooth. Porcelain or other composite materials may not hold up against the rigorous chewing done with those back teeth. Some dentists don’t recommend onlays simply because they are not comfortable placing them.

Visit your dentist and find out the severity of your cracked tooth and if an onlay is an option for protecting it. Your dentist may be able to work with you on an affordable treatment plan if a crown is what is recommended for you.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry in Baton Rouge, LA.

Did the Emergency Dentist Destroy One of My Teeth?

Posted on July 28, 2017 by writeradmin.

I went to an emergency dentist because of some pain while I was out of town. I told him what was going on. He couldn’t see what was going on, but said based on my symptoms he feels certain I cracked a tooth. He did a crown. The pain went away for a little bit, but is now hurting again. I looked and the tooth next to the crowned tooth has turned gray. Did the emergency dentist damage it when he gave me the crown?

Lisa L.

Dear Lisa,

It would be unlikely the emergency dentist caused the tooth to die. I can think of a few scenarios which are possible.

The first is a misdiagnosis. Possibly, the graying tooth could be the one bothering you all along and it referred pain to the crowned tooth. If that’s what happened, having another dentist look at the x-rays should be able to tell you for sure. If it turns out it was an obvious misdiagnosis, you can get a refund for your dental crown.

Another possibility is that something damaged the adjacent tooth after your appointment. Admittedly, this is the least likely option. The chance of something causing trauma to a tooth right next to the one you had treated without you realizing it is pretty small. But, it’s worth mentioning as an option.

The most likely option is that both teeth were traumatized at the same time. Sometimes it takes a while for the results of the trauma to show up. So, one tooth was cracked and another possibly had its blood supply cut off. This would cause it to gray slower than the symptoms on the other tooth showed up.

You may never know for sure unless it is a misdiagnosis. However, the dying tooth needs to be addressed. You’ll need a root canal treatment. If you don’t the bacteria it’s harboring will blow up into a tooth infection and you’ll end up with another dental emergency.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.

Will the Dentist Turn Me In For Marijuana Use?

Posted on November 1, 2016 by writeradmin.

I just cracked a tooth falling down the stairs. I need to go to an emergency dentist and try to get the tooth fixed, but I’m worried he’ll turn me in if he smells the pot on my clothes.

Name Withheld

Dear Anonymous,

It’s unlikely a dentist will turn you in for coming during a dental emergency. Most dentists went into their profession because they want to help people. They’re not out to get you. They want to help. I’d recommend you go. There could be other damage to the tooth you’re not aware of and the dentist can take precautions to help save the tooth.

I will say there is one scenario in which a dentist might be more likely to turn you in. That would be if you’re driving while high. As long as you have someone driving you to and from your appointment, you should be okay.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.