Cracked Tooth Syndrome

By Michael E. King, DDS

Owwww! That is usually the expression when you have bitten into something hard and felt a severe sharp pain radiating through your jaw, only to come to the conclusion that you have just broken or cracked a tooth. Many of you have experienced this before in the past and have had a number of treatments to resolve the issue. Today I will discuss the causes and prevention, treatment and why it hurts so bad to have a cracked tooth.

Causes and Prevention

The causes of a cracked tooth can be due to a number of situations. The following is a list of possibilities resulting in a cracked tooth

Chewing on hard objects or foods such as ice, nuts, or hard candy

An accident, such as a blow to the mouth

Grinding or clenching your teeth

Uneven chewing pressure

Loss of a significant portion of tooth structure through wear, large fillings, or other restorations

Exposure of tooth enamel to temperature extremes, such as eating hot food and then drinking ice water

Brittleness of teeth with root canal treatment

Prevention is simple (or maybe not), just avoid the causes and see your dentist regularly. Some habits, such as grinding, may need the assistance of your dentist to make a protective night guard to assist in stopping the habit and protecting the teeth.

Why does it hurt?

A cracked tooth may hurt because the pressure of biting causes the crack to open. When you stop biting, the pressure is released and a sharp pain results as the crack quickly closes.

Even though the crack may be microscopic, when it opens, the pulp inside the tooth may become irritated. The pulp is a soft tissue that contains the tooth's nerves and blood vessels. If the crack irritates the pulp, the tooth may become sensitive to temperature extremes. If the pulp becomes damaged or diseased as a result of the crack, endodontics (root canal) treatment may be necessary to save the tooth.

Treatment

Depending on the size and location of the crack, treatment may vary from bonding to a crown to hold the crack together. This may include endodontic treatment (root canal treatment) if the pulp is involved. A severely cracked tooth may need extraction if the tooth cannot be saved. Your dentist will determine the best treatment for you.

Tiny cracks are common and usually do not cause problems. Regular dental checkups are important. They allow your dentist to diagnose and treat problems in the early stage. If you continue to have pain, avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and call your dentist.