Metal Mouth Message Board

I had my braces fitted 3 weeks ago (ceramic upper & lower). I've just noticed a vertical hairline crack has appeared in the middle of my lower front tooth (is central incisor the correct term?). This wasn't there prior to having the braces fitted, is this a normal occurrence? Will this crack heal over time or is my tooth now permanently weakened?
Has anyone else experienced this? This braces lark is soooo stressful, there's always something new to freak me out!!!

Upon close inspection of my teeth some years ago I found these cracks that you mention, they appear in teeth normally and aren't a concern. Here's a really good photo and description:
http://www.doctorspiller.com/Cracked_Teeth.htm
(Scroll down to the crazing section)
You should call your regular dentist though if you want to put your mind at ease

Ohhh, thanks so much for that link - very interesting.
I'm now wondering if the crack or "craze" might have been there all along, maybe i've just noticed it as i'm paying my teeth a lot more attention now
Thanks you once again.

Flamingo wrote:Ohhh, thanks so much for that link - very interesting.
I'm now wondering if the crack or "craze" might have been there all along, maybe i've just noticed it as i'm paying my teeth a lot more attention now
Thanks you once again.

Isn't it dreadful finding all these flaws that have probably been there for years and years? Only now we notice them because we're watching our teeth so closely and have freak outs!

Sometimes the glue that they use to glue the bracket makes it look like there is a crack in the tooth.

i've also noticed a crack in one of my top front teeth since having braces. my ortho says it's very common and was almost certainly there before the braces, i just never noticed it. having braces as an adult has definitely made me so much more aware of my teeth than i was previously. so, i think you shouldn't worry too much, it's most likely not a problem!

My ortho pointed out cracks (there were 2 that I never noticed) during my bonding so that I wouldn't freak out later. He didn't want me to think that the braces did it.

The crack was probably there before but you just didn't notice. I have them on both of my top fronts. They are very noticeable if you use a flashlight. Dentist told me they are normal. I am sure ortho hasn't caused yours. Good luck!