< Image courtesy of www.21stcenturydental.com
Some teeth have cracks that are too small to show up on Xrays. 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). That's because these teeth absorb most of the forces of chewing.
Some people grind or clench their teeth. These people may be more likely to have cracked tooth syndrome. Sometimes, the way a person's teeth come together can put too much pressure on one tooth. This can cause the teeth to crack.
Teeth with large fillings may be more likely to crack. Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment are weaker than other teeth and also may be more likely to crack. People with one cracked tooth are more likely to have others, either at the same time or in the future.
If the crack gets bigger, a piece of the tooth can break. You many 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. This is known as a fistula.
Many people with cracked tooth syndrome have symptoms for months. It is hard to diagnose cracked tooth syndrome because the pain is not predictable.
Your mouth and teeth will be examined focusing on the tooth in question. A sharp instrument called an explorer may be used to feel for cracks in the tooth. . You may have X-rays taken. But X-rays often do not show the crack.
A bright light or special stains may be used to detect cracks. Existing restorations may need to be removed to check on crack lines.
How long symptoms last depends on how quickly a cracked tooth can be diagnosed. Even after a crack is found, treatment may not completely relieve the symptoms.
If you grind or clench your teeth it can increase your risk of cracked tooth syndrome.
Treatments for cracked tooth syndrome do not always relieve the symptoms.
Treatment depends on:
- Where the crack is
- How deep it is
- How large it is
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. Some cracks affect the pulp: the center of the tooth, where the nerves and blood vessels are. 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.
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.
A night guard (a plastic bite piece) can be made to prevent you from grinding your teeth. This 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 work at other times if clenching or grinding happens during waking hours as well.
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Treatment of cracked tooth syndrome is not always successful. We talk with patients about what might happen. 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 taken out.