Horizontal cracks on the teeth can be caused by a dental problem as well as other pathologies or poor oral hygiene.
Tooth enamel cracks occur for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they are almost invisible, they can be diagnosed only in the dentist’s office. But it is not uncommon for such imperfections to cause a lot of discomfort. A person is embarrassed about his smile, feels stiff and uptight. To get rid of cracks on the surface of the enamel of the teeth can be a good doctor. It is necessary to make preventive visits to this specialist at least once a year, so that he will diagnose and correct this defect in time.
Who Do Horizontal Cracks on Tooth Appear
The condition of tooth enamel and certain habits of people can cause horizontal cracks in teeth. If you look closely, some people notice small grooves on the surface of enamel. They appear due to a violation of the integrity of this layer. Despite the fact that enamel is considered the strongest tissue in the human body, it is also subject to mechanical impact and destruction. This is how cracks in the enamel of the teeth appear. There are many reasons for the formation of such defects, as well as their types. Often cracking does not affect dentin tissue, but this does not mean that such a dangerous problem can be ignored. If small cracks appear on the teeth, eventually cavities will form here. A patient can lose a tooth altogether if he or she does not treat his or her health responsibly. Only regular visits to the dentist can help preserve the integrity of the tooth row. Cracked teeth often cause toothache. Enamel protects the crown from damage and other external factors, but if its integrity is compromised, the slightest mechanical effect results in great discomfort.
Causes
There are several reasons for the occurrence of horizontal microcracks on the enamel surface of the tooth:
- trauma, mechanical damage;
- Smoking, alcohol abuse;
- bruxism – grinding of teeth due to disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system;
- malocclusion;
- Abuse of toothpicks;
- Lack of oral hygiene;
- certain infectious diseases;
- Taking certain enamel-damaging medications;
- Biting hard things with your teeth;
- Abuse of fruit juices, carbonated beverages containing acids that can damage the integrity of enamel
- Temperature fluctuations – alternating between very hot and very cold foods;
- Abuse of whitening toothpastes containing abrasive ingredients.
Cracks on the tooth surface may be caused by one or more of the above-mentioned factors. There are also genetic, hereditary factors. If your parents have naturally bad teeth with thin enamel, your oral health must be treated responsibly. Timely diagnosis and treatment with modern methods, technology will help to get rid of all visual defects. But first you need to deal with the causes of the formation of cracks on the teeth.
Another problem associated with the formation of horizontal microcracks on the surface of teeth is that over time, the defect progresses, the split can appear not only on the enamel, but also on the root of the tooth. It will be problematic to save it.
Diagnosis in Dentistry
Patients wonder what to do when there is a crack in the tooth surface. It is mandatory to go to a good dentist. The doctor will conduct a visual examination, ask you about the symptoms with which you went to him. If small cracks can be seen on the teeth, the doctor will notice it right away. It is not uncommon that defects are not visually noticeable. To identify the problem, the specialist uses a special lamp. Under ultraviolet light, any microcracks on the front or masticatory teeth are immediately visible. Sometimes to determine the type and location of the defect, the specialist uses a special dye. This is applied to the surface of the crown. Destroyed areas of enamel instantly absorb the pigment and become stained, allowing the dentist to assess the extent of the damage.
The doctor will tell you what to do if you find microcracks on your teeth. Personal feelings and symptoms that the patient presents with are also of utmost importance. If you yourself have noticed that small cracks have appeared on your teeth, there is no need to put off going to the dentist, even if it is not an inconvenience. The fact that such visual defects are already visible to the naked eye indicates the severity of the problem.
If you have become acutely reactive to hot, cold, this is also a reason to see a specialist. Such a symptom indicates either a crack in the enamel surface of the tooth, or a bare root. Both problems require immediate resolution at the dentist’s office. Only a dentist can determine how to properly treat horizontal cracks in teeth.
Types of Teeth Defects
During examination, the doctor will explain what to do when a crack appears in the tooth, but first you need to determine the type of defect and its localization. According to location, such flaws are divided into several types: cracks on the front teeth; damage on the molars; cracks of the root of the damaged tooth. By appearance, there are vertical cracks on the surface of the tooth, horizontal cracks of any teeth, diagonal fractures and damages. They can also vary in depth. Depending on the type of damage, its localization, and peculiarities of development, therapy methods differ.
Horizontal Teeth Cracks Treatment
Treatment of small cracks in the enamel of teeth is performed in the dentist’s office after a complete examination of the oral cavity and determining the depth of the damage. For minor damages that are invisible to the naked eye, a professional cleaning is performed, using special gentle compositions without abrasive components, which do not damage the surface of the crown. Such measures are not only aesthetic, but also prophylactic. The treatment with antiseptic compounds removes food debris from difficult-to-reach areas, which is an ideal breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria. All microorganisms are also destroyed in this pretreatment process.
Small horizontal cracks on the teeth are treated by grinding them and then applying fluoride varnish. Such measures have a positive effect only on very small cracks that are visible during microscopic examination. If the vertical crack is already clearly visible to the naked eye, grinding alone is not enough. In such a situation, the dentist removes the damaged tissue and uses a quality filling material that is visually indistinguishable from tooth enamel.
A good dentist knows exactly how to treat a deep crevice on the tooth, he will suggest the best therapy methods according to the individual characteristics of the structure of the tooth. If the fracture extends not only to the crown of the tooth, but also moved to its root, it will be problematic to restore such a tooth. There is a chance that it will have to be extracted.
A horizontal deep fracture on the tooth can cause part of the crown to break off. Its integrity can be restored using modern technology in aesthetic dentistry. Special photopolymer materials are used. They are as strong as dentin and enamel tissues, and are visually indistinguishable. Treatment of any cracks on the teeth is a long and time-consuming process. The earlier you go to the dentist, the easier it will be to get rid of the problem.
Microcracks in the Front Teeth – Fixing the Defect
Vertical or horizontal cracks on the front teeth cause a lot of inconvenience. These defects fall into the smile zone, and if the patient abuses coffee, black tea, smoking, over time, these imperfections will darken, becoming even more noticeable. You cannot just put fillings on these teeth, they need to be restored. The doctor performs an examination, and if necessary, prescribes x-rays and a CT scan of the jaw to see if there is any damage under the crown or at the root. After the diagnosis, he determines the tactics for removal of the horizontal or vertical fracture of the tooth.
Prevention Methods
If small horizontal cracks appeared on the teeth, it is a consequence of poor oral care. The problem is easier to prevent than to treat later, so preventive measures are of paramount importance. There is no need to neglect the traditional rules of oral hygiene. You should brush your teeth with a good toothpaste at least twice a day. After eating, be sure to rinse your mouth with plain water or a special mouthwash. If food debris remains between the teeth, you should stop using wooden toothpicks in favor of dental floss. Toothpicks traumatize enamel and do not clean up the dirt effectively enough. Flossing does a much better job. A good dentist will teach you how to use it.
You should also choose your toothbrush responsibly. Preference should be given to bristles with a medium degree of hardness. Do not be fond of whitening toothpastes, you can use such a composition not more than once a week.
Vertical cracks – it is not only an aesthetic problem, but to detect them in an early stage of development, when the usual grinding and professional cleaning can help, is problematic. Therefore, the main preventive measure is regular visits to the dentist. You should come in for a routine check-up at least once a year, but it’s better to do it every six months. Choose a reliable clinic with the necessary diagnostic equipment. In 90% of cases, the dentist will see micro cracks formed in the enamel, but it is not uncommon to see horizontal cracks in the teeth only under a special lamp.
