Did you know that teeth can crack? Cracks usually start out in teeth with no symptoms at all because they are superficial and small. As time progresses though, cracks can get bigger and they can bury themselves deeper into a tooth. When these cracks get through the hard shell of the tooth, the enamel, it can reach the underlying dentin. When a crack reaches the layer of the dentin inside the tooth the tooth can start to develop symptoms. These symptoms are can include pain when biting down on the tooth because of the increased pressure separating the crack as well as sharp pain when relieving the pressure because the separated portions of the tooth come back together when the pressure is gone. The symptoms are your tooth's warning mechanism to let you know that something isn't right. If you have these symptoms you should see your dentist as soon as possible as it could be a precursor to your tooth splitting in half or breaking. Unfortunately, when a tooth splits it can't be saved and has to be pulled. However, when a tooth breaks, sometimes it can be fixed and saved. Don't delay scheduling your appointment as it could lead to more costly problems down the road. Give us a call at 785-274-9917!