Cracked tooth syndrome could be considered a type of dental trauma and also one of the possible causes of dental pain. It occurs when a tooth has a crack that’s too small to show up on X-rays, or is under the gum and challenging to identify. Mainly it appears on molars because they absorb most of the forces of chewing.
People who grind or clench their teeth may be more susceptible to cracked tooth syndrome because of the constant forces put on their teeth, mainly in patients aged between 30 to 50 years.
The common symptoms are:
- Tooth may hurt sometimes when you bite or chew.
- Swollen gums around the cracked tooth.
- Teeth that have suddenly become sensitive to sweetness, cold or hot foods.
- Aches that tends to come and go.
- Discomfort around the teeth and gums that is hard to pinpoint.
The worst consequence about it, is if the crack gets bigger, a piece of the tooth may break off. You may also develop an infection. If the crack propagates into the pulp may develop other diseases, for example, pulpitis, pulpal necrosis and periapical periodontitis. If you have any doubt about this, you must see your dentist immediately for an oral care evaluation.
Diagnosis of cracked tooth is often difficult, the x-rays are not enough, your dentist will do a thorough examination of your mouth and teeth. Dentists may use a sharp instrument called an explorer to feel for cracks in the tooth and will inspect the gums around the tooth for irregularities.
There are several ways to treat cracked tooth syndrome, your dentist will recommend the best solution depending on the severity and location of the tooth fracture, the options include: bonding, crowns, root canal or extraction. If your dentist determined to remove your tooth, an oral surgeon can install a dental implant in your jawbone to replace the missing tooth. If you feel pain when you are bite or chew, contact us and make an appointment as soon as you can because you can prevent future dental troubles.