Cracked tooth because of brace??

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#1 Post by **cakeorbed** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:07 am

Oh my god.. I was just running my tongue across my teeth and felt something weird on my front tooth - had a look in the mirror and I think my tooth has cracked!! Been in braces for two weeks - how has this happened??

Very, very upset. Is this even fixable? Will I have to get my brace removed?

#2 Post by **Shutter** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 6:53 pm

One of my front incisors cracked about 4 months after I got braces. I was flossing my teeth one night and a chip of the tooth literally flew out of my mouth.

I called my ortho the next day and she asked me to come in to see her. She looked at the tooth and said that the rest of it looked fine. She filed down the jagged corner so it wouldn't be rough on my tongue.

My ortho said that this sometimes occurs, but it usually happens because you already had some sort of hairline crack in the tooth before the braces were applied. Then, the stress of the braces or the teeth pushing against each other in new ways causes the crack to get bigger or break.

I saw my regular dentist an my next regularly scheduled checkup, and he basically said the same thing. He is going to fix it with some bonding material after my braces are removed.

If I were you, I would call my ortho or my dentist to have them check it out. Hopefully it is nothing, similiar to my case.

#3 Post by **Kharmynn** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:42 am

Wow, this post is making me nervous.

I'm going in on Oct. 1st for my second consult to discuss the treatment plan my ortho has drawn up, but now this adds one more worry to the pile.

I have noticed in the past that I have what appear to be fine cracks in my two front teeth. I don't know if this is a common thing or not, as I haven't examined anyone elses teeth as closely as I have my own.
I've never even heard of this happening before! How common is this? Should I be worried about it?

Between the possibility of having healthy teeth removed and my front teeth cracking off I'm starting to wonder how smart getting braces would be.

#4 Post by **cakeorbed** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:17 am

I am seeing my dentist tomorrow afternoon to see what he says. I will let you know. I am hoping it is nothing serious

When my ortho first put my braces on he used tons of glue and on Thursday I asked him to remove the excess - perhaps this is what caused it?? Just seems like this is adding to the stress of having braces in the first place!

#5 Post by **drrick** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:11 am

It would be very rare for braces alone to crack a tooth. Most likely there was something going on before (which may not have even been detectable) In any event depending on whether the tooth is chipped or actually cracked (they are distinctly different) will determine what the tx is.

#6 Post by **Kharmynn** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:24 pm

Cakeorbed,
Good luck at your appointment tomorrow. I hope you get some reassuring news.

#7 Post by **cakeorbed** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:29 am

Boy, do I feel stupid...

Me: I think there's a crack in my tooth, I can't believe this, only had braces on for a few weeks. Doom! Dooooooooooooooooom!
Dentist: Ok, let's have a look. [Pokes around]
Dentist: Mmm hmmm... so, where'd do you say this crack is?
Me: There! On my front tooth! DOOM!
Dentist: Ahhhh... [Pokes around]. Yeah, that's just some glue. I can get that right off.
Me:

So no crack, just some old glue!!!! HUGELY relieved!!!!! Had a bit of a chuckle with him and have come to the conclusion that possibly, on some rare occassions, I can over-react. Slightly.

Rock on, braces.

#8 Post by **Kharmynn** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:45 am

Well, then it was good news after all! Glad it was nothing serious after all.
I too have the tendency to overreact.
I'm still going to ask the ortho about my own front teeth...

#9 Post by **petitcanard** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:21 pm

Cakeorbed, I just read this post and laughed so hard... I can see myself doing the exact same thing!! Thanks so much for brightening an otherwise nasty day

. I'm so glad it turned out to be nothing!! DOOM... omg... I'm still laughing...

Kharmynn, I have the same worries you do - if I look in the right light, it looks like I have a hairline crack running all the way down the center of one of my front teeth. I'm supposed to be getting braced in just over a month, and this wasn't something I thought about.. figured I had already worried about everything possible but.. surprise! ha. So now I picture myself sporting a boxer-like smile... ugh. Let us know what your ortho says! Hopefully it's nothing to worry about, and we can move on to the next worry on the list..

#10 Post by **contauri** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:19 am

Kharmynn wrote:Wow, this post is making me nervous.

I'm going in on Oct. 1st for my second consult to discuss the treatment plan my ortho has drawn up, but now this adds one more worry to the pile.

I have noticed in the past that I have what appear to be fine cracks in my two front teeth. I don't know if this is a common thing or not, as I haven't examined anyone elses teeth as closely as I have my own.
I've never even heard of this happening before! How common is this? Should I be worried about it?

Between the possibility of having healthy teeth removed and my front teeth cracking off I'm starting to wonder how smart getting braces would be.

I actually had the same worries, my front teeth appear to have a few 'lines' in them too that look like cracks, but they feel fine, and I assume my dentist would notice it since they are the only ones that get that close to my teeth. I'm getting my braces on in 20 days, so I ended up looking up some information regarding the lines on my teeth.

From what I have read, the lines may be "craze lines" which seem to just be minor wear of the teeth. It seems to be a common cosmetic problem that can be treated with veneers. Some lines could be major, if it appears you have any symptoms of cracked teeth. I'm not 100% certain but I plan on asking my Ortho when I go in to get braces in a few weeks

And cakeorbed, I'm glad it was only glue!

#11 Post by **Kharmynn** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:02 pm

I'll def. post what he says.
I'm kinda glad I'm not the only one, and it's not just me being - well, me.