is it true nothing can be done for slight, vertical cracks in teeth?

Question

a dentist i went to while travelling found vertical cracks in my two lower front teeth, probably acquired by my lifelong nail-biting habit. (the cracks, not the teeth, obviously...)

she advised putting on a sealant when i got home, not having time to do it at the time. my home dentist said this would be wasted effort, that nothing could be done unless the cracks progressed, and of course told me to stop biting my nails.

extra info - the tops of those teeth are transparent - you can see a darkish area behind the enamel. my teeth are sensitive to cold, air, and pressure, but only sometimes.

thanks

Answer 1

I agree with your home DDS; a sealant will cover up the cracks, but not splint or bond them in any meaningful way. 99.9% of the time these vertical cracks, as known as craze lines, are harmless.

Mild, non-lingering (lasting less than a few seconds) sensitivity to cold and air are within normal limits for front teeth. Pressure sensitivity is not. If you are having consistent symptoms, talk about it with your dentist over a pair of fresh x-rays. You may need a root canal, crown, or both.

Answer 2

I would consult a cosmetic dentist to see what can be done

if the look of it bothers you they may be able to do some sort of veneer or something...

for the sensitivity, try using a tooth paste for that purpose like Sensodyne

Answer 3

This sounds somewhat like my central incisor that I cracked on a swimming pool in about 1960. Don't worry about it. Mine never needed any treatment and yours probably don't either.