Download Cracked Teeth / Cracked Tooth Syndrome

Cracked Teeth / Cracked Tooth Syndrome
Why does a cracked tooth hurt?
The crack will expose the inside of the tooth (the 'dentine') that has very small fluid filled tubes that lead to
the nerve ('pulp'). Flexing of the tooth opens the crack and causes movement of the fluid within the tubes.
When you let the biting pressure off the crack closes and the fluid pressure simulates the nerve and
causes pain.
How can I prevent my teeth from fracturing?
Most fractures cannot be avoided because they happen when you least expect them. However, you can
reduce the risk of breaking teeth by
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trying to eliminate clenching habits during waking hours,
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avoiding chewing hard objects (eg bones, pencils, ice),
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avoiding chewing hard foods such as pork crackling and hard-grain bread.
If you think you grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist if a nightguard or a splint will be of use to you.
It is very important to preserve the strength of your teeth so they are not as susceptible to fracture.
Try to prevent dental decay and have it treated early. Heavily decayed and therefore heavily filled teeth
are weaker than teeth that have never been filled.
Individuals who have problems with tooth wear or "cracked tooth syndrome" should consider wearing a
nightguard while sleeping. This will absorb most of the grinding forces.
Relaxation exercises may be beneficial.
How does the dentist treat a cracked tooth?
It depends on the direction and severity of the crack. If the crack is small enough, it may be removed by
replacing the filling. Bonded white fillings and bonded amalgam fillings may hold the tooth together
making it less likely to crack.
Sometimes the cracked part of the tooth fractures off during the removal of the filling and this can be
replaced with a new filling.
Your dentist may first place an orthodontic band around the tooth to keep it together. If the pain settles,
the band is replaced with a filling that covers the fractured portion of tooth (or the whole biting surface).
Other options include the placement of gold or porcelain fillings or even a crown.
If the crack goes too far vertically, there is a possibility the tooth may need to be removed and replaced
with an artificial one. (See bridgework, denture and implant)
The nerve may sometimes be affected so badly that it dies. Root canal treatment will be required if the
tooth is to be saved.
Will my tooth become better?
Unlike fractures elsewhere in the body, this crack will never heal. There is a small chance that the crack
will get worse even with a crown placed. This may lead to the need for root canal treatment, or even
removal of the tooth. However, many cracks can be fixed without root canal or tooth removal.
What type of forces cause teeth to crack?
Front teeth usually break due to a knock, an accident or during biting.
Back teeth can also be fractured from a knock. They are much more likely than front teeth, to crack from
forces applied by the jaws slamming together rapidly. This is why sportspeople wear mouthguards to
cushion the blow.
Other forces occur during sleep because people grind their teeth with a much greater force than they
would ever do while awake. The first sign of problems may be what we call "cracked tooth syndrome" –
a sore or sensitive tooth somewhere in the mouth that is often hard for even the dentist to find. In some
individuals the grinding, called bruxism, causes tooth wear rather than fracture.