You may have a cracked tooth and not be aware of it. Other dental problems like serious damage to your teeth, a cavity, or an abscess will announce their presence with pain or some other kind of discomfort. A crack in a tooth however, may be much more difficult to find. A cracked tooth may be so small and thin that your dentist may miss it during your routine exam, and it may not appear on your dental x-ray. So, it may go completely unnoticed.
But a crack in your tooth, no matter how small will still leave you vulnerable to decay and infection. If it is not addressed, you could find yourself dealing with a cavity or infected pulp. That may require a root canal or an extraction. If your dentist discovers the crack soon enough, she may be able to solve the problem with a filling or a crown.
But how do you know if you have a crack in your tooth? The primary indicator is pain. Keep in mind that you will not experience continuous pain. You will probably experience it when you bite or chew, or your teeth are exposed to something hot, cold or sweet. The pain may or may not be intense, but it will be brief. To help your dentist locate the problem you should make a note of when you experienced the pain, what you were doing when the pain occurred, and the area in your tooth where you felt.
If you think that you may have a cracked tooth, or if you have any pain in your teeth or mouth, you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Esperanza A. Rodriguez at Esperanza A. Rodriguez, DDS. If you live in Bronx, New York, you can call 718-364-7791 today to plan your visit.