Cracked tooth syndrome describes a fracture within a tooth. These fractures are often minuscule, appearing as microscopic cracks that are not easily seen. The fracture might be confined to the outer enamel or extend deeper into the underlying dentin layer. Over time, an untreated crack can worsen, allowing bacteria to penetrate the tooth and potentially cause other dental issues.
Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth
The symptoms of a cracked tooth are often inconsistent and can be confusing. A primary indicator is a sharp pain that occurs when biting or chewing. This pain may be most noticeable when you release your bite, as the crack closes. The discomfort can be erratic, appearing suddenly and then disappearing just as quickly.
Another common symptom is increased sensitivity to temperature changes. You might feel a sharp pain when consuming hot or cold foods and drinks. Sensitivity to sweet foods can also occur. In some instances, the gum tissue surrounding the affected tooth may become swollen or tender, particularly if bacteria have entered the crack and caused irritation.
Causes and Risk Factors
Several factors can contribute to a cracked tooth. Repetitive habits like chewing on hard objects, such as ice or popcorn kernels, place stress on teeth and can lead to fractures. The habit of grinding or clenching teeth, a condition known as bruxism, can also weaken tooth structure and cause cracks to form, often unconsciously during sleep.
Trauma or a direct injury to the mouth can result in a cracked tooth. Teeth with large dental fillings or other restorations may be more susceptible to fractures. Age is another consideration, as teeth can become less resilient over the years due to natural wear and tear.
The Diagnostic Process
Diagnosing cracked tooth syndrome can be challenging for dentists because the fractures are often not visible to the naked eye. A thorough clinical examination is the first step, where your dentist will review your dental history and ask about your specific symptoms. They will likely perform a visual inspection, sometimes using magnification tools like dental loupes to get a closer look at the tooth’s surface. A dental explorer, a fine-pointed instrument, may be used to carefully feel for any cracks or irregularities on the tooth.
To pinpoint the exact location of the pain, your dentist might ask you to bite down on a specialized plastic instrument called a Tooth Slooth. This tool allows them to apply pressure to one cusp of the tooth at a time, helping to isolate the source of the discomfort. In some cases, a special dye is applied to the tooth; the dye seeps into any cracks, staining them and making them visible. Standard X-rays often fail to reveal these cracks because the X-ray beam must be parallel to the fracture line to detect it, which is rarely the case.
Treatment Options for Cracked Teeth
The treatment for a cracked tooth depends largely on the size, location, and severity of the fracture. The primary goals of treatment are to alleviate pain and to stop the crack from spreading further, which could cause more damage. For minor craze lines, which are tiny cracks limited to the outer enamel, treatment may not be necessary.
For smaller cracks, your dentist may recommend dental bonding. This procedure involves using a tooth-colored composite resin to fill the crack, effectively sealing it and restoring the tooth’s integrity. If a larger piece of the tooth’s chewing surface, known as a cusp, has fractured, a dental crown is often the recommended solution. The crown acts as a cap, covering the tooth to hold it together and protect it from biting forces.
If the crack has extended deep into the tooth and reached the pulp, which contains the nerve and blood vessels, a root canal will be necessary. This procedure removes the damaged pulp tissue to relieve pain and eliminate infection. Following the root canal, a crown is typically placed on the tooth to protect it from further damage. In the most severe cases, where the crack extends below the gum line and splits the tooth into two separate segments, extraction may be the only option.