Anyone ever have a cracked tooth?

[mookie]

I went to our dentist yesterday for it. Doesn't hurt all the time, but he told me I would just have to wait until it cracked completely and then he'd cap it. He grinded it down so it wouldn't hurt as much, but today I seem to notice it more...shooting pains whenever I bite down. It's annoying! Anyone ever have this? How long did it take to crack? I'm tempted just to call my Dr back and tell him to hit it so it will crack now, and I can get it over with.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I had to have a crown for a fineline crack in my tooth. they did the temporary right away to protect it and the crown 2 wks later.
I would call and get in if its bothering you.

 

[Rella Bella]

I've cracked a few and never had a dentist tell me I had to "wait for it to crack all the way". That sounds really strange to me. I've always been told it's better if it doesn't crack all the way through. Either way it should be able to be fixed.

And you won't want it "capped" you'll need a crown. My dentist has a way of doing a partial crown which is less expensive. I think I would run to another dentist for a second opinion. You shouldn't have to wait in discomfort.

 

[mookie]

Is crowning it painful? I've never had to do anything except get a filling...

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

That doesn't make much sense to me either. I think I'd get a second opinion or demand the cap now. If It cracks all the way and breaks off, they'll have a hard time getting a cap on at all.

 

[Rella Bella]

Is crowning it painful? I've never had to do anything except get a filling...

Not really, no more than a filling. They grind down part of your tooth and then glue a crown on top. They should be able to put a temporary on right away.

 

[hydster]

I'm the queen of teeth problems and cracks and I've never had to wait for them to crack completely. I think I'd be seeing someone else if possible. If you wait for it to crack all the way you risk getting an infection and a wicked abscess which is NOT fun! I would demand that he put a crown on it soon! There is no reason to have it crack all the way! It will end up causing you more pain than you should have! He should have fitted you with a temp crown and then put a real one on when it's done being made!

Honestly I'd call back and not wait much longer! I've had some wicked abscesses in my life and they are NOT fun and for ME at least they develop really fast!

Hope you get it feeling better!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I once cracked my two lower teeth with a beer glass.

All I know, is they started to hurt. The dentist put this camera on my teeth that magnified them on a TV screen. You could see the fracture going straight across.

I ended up having to have root canals and veneers put on both of them.

That ended up being one expensive Corona.

 

[Glinda64]

I've cracked a few and never had a dentist tell me I had to "wait for it to crack all the way". That sounds really strange to me. I've always been told it's better if it doesn't crack all the way through. Either way it should be able to be fixed.

And you won't want it "capped" you'll need a crown. My dentist has a way of doing a partial crown which is less expensive. I think I would run to another dentist for a second opinion. You shouldn't have to wait in discomfort.

I agree that it sounds strange to wait until it cracked any more. Get it fixed now. My dentist told me that a cap and a crown are the same thing. Either way, you'll need one. To me, a cap/crown isn't any worse than having a large filling. It's not too bad.

 

[DopeyRN]

I'd definitely get a second opinion. Leaving the crack could lead to infection which would then need a root canal as well as a "cap"/crown. I have 2. the second time the tooth broke and I took care of it immediately...no root canal which was a relief.

 

[Mermaid02]

I had a cracked tooth and the dentist told me the same thing as the OP. It was MANY years before it broke (it was a molar) and the dentist just pulled the piece out and kind of rebuilt my tooth with filling kind of material. Not terribly expensive and good as new.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Former chair side dental assistant here, with 5 dentists in the family and one recently cracked tooth.

DO NOT WAIT. If the crack moves up to the root, you will have to get an extraction. Never heard of such a thing.

 

[dodukes]

OMG I am so happy this topic came up. I had a dentist twice(sameone) tell me the same thing. I have pain in one of my molars and it really hurts sometimes. I think i even feel the crack but they see nothing, in fact one day after the firs time i had a piece come off ehile eating pizza!! (i kept it in hopes of showing it to him), He told me same thing, cant do anything until it cracks. I think mine is just like hairline or something, at least thats what it tlooks liek in the mirror wheni try to look back there. Anyway i am glad you guys said this is not true, i will have to find another dentist. And i agree with everyone else, then, go get a second opinion, it cant be good to wait, if its hurting you.

 

[shelly3girls]

I cracked a tooth many years ago and the dentist told me he could fix it or I could wait. I waited which I now regret. He didn't tell me that by waiting I was risking many things including a root canal. Now years later I am not only paying for a crown but also a root canal (total bill of $1650 for a molar ). If I had it done right away I probably would have just needed the crown.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I can't believe all the people with dentists who are saying wait
who wants the tooth to break more and be uncappable. or a root canal.

 

[hydster]

I can't believe all the people with dentists who are saying wait
who wants the tooth to break more and be uncappable. or a root canal.

The dentist.....more $$$$ for him to do root canal and crown than just take care of it now!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I had the same thing for many years. The tooth would only hurt me occassionally when I'd have something cold or hot. It didn't bother me enough to want to spend the money on a crown. It finally did break, but in a way that could be sort of reconstructed like a filling. The dentist told me it will only last for a few years, then I'll need a crown.

Luckily for me, we've just gotten dental coverage this year. So waiting for the crown was actually a good decision for me -- financially, anyway.

 

[Cinderella2004]

Dental Assistant here.....get the crown now!!!!


Sometimes, if a pt. is having no symptoms, and has an insurance issuse they "can" wait. Doesn't mean we recommend it though.