Information

Cracked Teeth

Teeth that have developed hairline cracks can be very tricky to manage. This is because it is often impossible to know for certain the size and extent of the crack. Very fine hair line cracks are impossible to see. Diagnosis is often based on symptoms as there are often no significant findings on visual or x ray images.

Cracks in teeth usually develop due to trauma or weakness from large fillings. People who have a tendency to clench or grind their teeth may be particularly prone to this problem.

Assessing the direction and extent of the crack can be very difficult. The deeper the crack towards or into the nerve and root, the more complex and less successful the treatment.

Common symptoms are pain on biting hard foods, eg a seed or grain on a particular place and sensitivity to hot or cold.

Initial treatment is based on preventing the crack from extending further and controlling the symptoms. Once stability has been achieved the longer term restoration of the tooth can be planned. Teeth that have cracked all the way through the middle are generally not restorable and would need to be extracted.

American Association of Endodontists
www.aae.org/patients/patientinfo/faqs/cracksum.htm

Information

Cracked Teeth

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