Cracked tooth syndrome is a dental condition caused by small fractures in the tooth, often not visible on X-rays. It can cause pain when chewing or biting. People who clench or grind their teeth, have gum disease, large fillings, or root canals are more prone to it. There are different types of cracks, and treatment depends on the location and severity of the fracture.
Cracked tooth syndrome is a dental condition that exists when a tooth has a very small fracture. The person with the broken tooth may feel pain in the area of the fractured tooth when chewing or biting, but is unable to identify exactly which tooth is causing the pain. The fractures or cracks in the teeth are so tiny that they can be bare to the visible eye. They are not always visible on an X-ray.
People who clench or grind their teeth, have advanced gum disease, large fillings, or teeth that have had root canals are more prone to experience broken tooth syndrome. People who have had at least one experience of cracked tooth syndrome are more likely to suffer further fractures. The lower back molars are more susceptible to fractures than other teeth as they absorb most of the force from chewing.
There are three different classifications of cracks in the tooth. The first type of fissure is an oblique supragingival fracture that occurs in the portion of the tooth above the gum line. The second type of fissure is an oblique subgingival fracture that affects large portions of the tooth and often reaches down to the jawbone. The third type of crack is called a vertical furcation fracture. This type of fracture extends to the nerves of a tooth that split into two or more individual roots.
In an oblique supragingival fracture, a patient may not feel any pain. In both subgingival and vertical fractures patients will most likely experience some level of pain or discomfort.
There are also three types of cracks that apply to the roots of the teeth. Oblique root fractures occur below the gum line and can enter the jaw. In a vertical root fracture, the root has become dry and brittle, usually when a nerve has died, and then broken. A vertical apical root fracture is a split in the middle of a root.
Cracked tooth syndrome is diagnosed by a dental visit. The dentist usually performs a bite test by asking the patient to bite down on a special dental instrument that is placed on the tooth with the suspected fracture. The dentist will hold the file against one dental cusp at a time as the patient bites. If the pressure of the bite causes pain, the fractured area of the tooth has been located. Other methods sometimes used to locate a fracture are painting a special dye on the tooth, visual inspection, and x-rays.
Treatment for cracked tooth syndrome depends on the location, type, and severity of the fracture. Often a root canal is performed and then the tooth is covered with a crown. Some circumstances, such as when the tooth is damaged beyond repair, require the damaged tooth to be extracted. In a tooth with more than one gap, pins are placed inside the tooth to stabilize it.
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