Cracked Tooth Syndrome

You may have a very common problem in one of your back teeth - a cracked tooth.  Teeth may crack when subjected to the stress of chewing hard foods or ice, or by biting on an unexpected hard object, like a popcorn kernel.  Teeth with or without fillings my have this problem.  Teeth restored with silver fillings (dental amalgam) are most susceptible.  You may realize that you have a cracked tooth if you find yourself chewing on one side of your mouth, your teeth are sensitive to hot or cold, or sweet or sour food, or you feel a sharp pain when chewing or the pain that you feel is intermittent.

Treatment For Cracked Teeth:

!)  Simple Crack:   The majority of cracked teeth (about 90%) can be treated by placement of a crown on the tooth.  When the tooth is prepared for the crown, and a temporary crown is placed, the pain usually is alleviated.  If this is the case, then the final crown can be placed to resolve the problem.

2)  Complex Crack:  Occasionally (about 10%), the tooth cracks into the nerve of the tooth.  If pain persists after placement of a temporary crown, then the crack likely involves the nerve of the tooth.  The tooth then requires root canal treatment to resolve the pain.  If the crack extends beyond the nerve into the root of the tooth, then there is no hope of restoring the tooth and the tooth needs to be removed.  The best hope of avoiding tooth loss is early crown treatment to strengthen and protect the tooth from a progressively deepening crack.  Visit Adult Dentistry of Rochester to learn if you have cracked tooth syndrome.

Tags:  Cracked Tooth Syndrome, Cracked Tooth, Dental Crown, Dental Amalgam