What is Cracked Tooth Syndrome?
Some teeth have cracks that are too small to show up on X-rays. Sometimes the cracks are under the gum. These small cracks are known as “cracked tooth syndrome.” Cracked tooth syndrome is most common in lower back teeth (molars) which absorb most of the forces of chewing.
Tooth syndrome can develop due to any of these reasons.
Symptoms of cracked tooth syndrome
The tooth may sometimes hurt when you bite or chew. The sensitivity or pain can be mild or intense. It may last a brief time or a long time. It may be painful only when you eat certain foods or when you bite in a specific way.
You will not feel a constant ache, as you would if you had a cavity or abscess. The tooth may be more sensitive to cold temperatures. If you have any of these symptoms, see your dentist right away.
Many people with cracked tooth syndrome have symptoms for months. Cracked tooth syndrome is one of the most difficult dental problems to diagnose because the pain is not predictable. Your dentist may refer you to an endodontist (root canal specialist).
Don’t ignore a cracked tooth
If the crack gets bigger, a piece of the tooth may break off and fall. You may also develop an infection. This can happen in the gum around the fractured tooth.
You may notice a pimple-like bump on the gum near the tooth. Pus may drain from this pimple. This condition is known as a fistula.
Diagnosis of cracked tooth syndrome
Your dentist will examine your mouth and teeth, focusing on the tooth in question and the surrounding gums. You may have X-rays taken, but they often do not show the crack.
Your dentist may use a sharp instrument called an explorer to feel for cracks in the tooth. Another tool looks like a toothbrush without bristles. It fits over one part of the tooth at a time as you bite down. If you feel pain, the part of the tooth being tested most likely has a crack in it.
7 Day Dental dentist may shine a very bright light on the tooth. He or she may stain it with a special dye. If the tooth already has a filling or crown, your dentist may remove it to see the tooth better.
Prevention of cracked tooth syndrome
If you grind or clench your teeth, talk to your dentist about treatment. Grinding can increase your risk of cracked tooth syndrome as well as jaw pain.
Your dentist can make a night guard (a plastic bite piece) to prevent you from grinding your teeth. It will relieve the pain from grinding. For some people, it can stop tooth sensitivity.
The night guard can be worn during sleep. It also can be worn at other times if clenching or grinding happens during waking hours.
Cracked tooth syndrome treatment
Treatment depends on the location, size, and depth of the crack(s).
In some people, a crown will fix the problem. In others, root canal treatment solves the problem. Some people continue to have occasional symptoms after treatment. They may need to have the tooth extracted.
Depending on your condition, your dentist may have to choose one of the following procedures.
Dental crown
Sometimes a crack affects one or more cusps of a tooth. These are the highest points of the tooth. In this case, the tooth may be fixed with a crown, also known as a cap.
Root canal
Some cracks affect the pulp: the center of the tooth, where the nerves and blood vessels are located. In that case, the tooth will need root canal treatment.
About 20% of teeth with cracked tooth syndrome will need root canals. After a root canal, the tooth will no longer be sensitive to temperature, but it still will respond to pressure.
If you felt pain before the root canal, you may still feel some pain afterward. It probably will not be as intense or as frequent, but it may still occur.
Tooth extraction
In some cases, the tooth may need to be removed. Some cracks affect the root of the tooth in the jaw. There’s no way to fix this type of crack. If your tooth is removed, you can have it replaced with an implant or a bridge.
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