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Patient 25

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Raymond Little
Raymond Little

A cracked tooth can be caused by chewing hard foods, accidents, teeth grinding, uneven chewing pressure, and other factors. It may be difficult to identify which tooth is cracked because the pain can be felt in other areas and cracks may not be visible. When a tooth is cracked, biting down causes the crack to open and close, irritating the pulp inside and causing pain. Depending on the severity, treatments for a cracked tooth range from bonding to repair small cracks to root canals or extraction for larger ones. Seeing a dentist regularly allows early diagnosis and treatment before a crack worsens.

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JADA, Vol. 134, April 2003 531 W hen you bite down, you feel a sharp pain. It quickly disappears, and perhaps you ignore it. You avoid certain foods or chew only on one side of your mouth. Does this sound familiar? If so, you may have a cracked tooth. WHAT CAUSES A TOOTH TO CRACK? A tooth may crack due to a variety of factors: dchewing on hard objects or foods such as ice, nuts or hard candy; dan accident, such as a blow to the mouth; dgrinding and clenching your teeth; duneven chewing pressure; dstress on a tooth; dloss of a significant portion of tooth structure through wear, large fillings or other restorations; dexposure of tooth enamel to temperature extremes, such as eating hot food and then drinking ice water; dbrittleness of teeth that have undergone endodontic (root canal) treatment. HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A TOOTH IS CRACKED? It could be difficult. You may not even be able to tell which tooth hurts or whether the pain is from an upper or lower tooth. A crack may appear as a hairline fracture, running vertically along the tooth. It often is invisible to the eye and may not show even on an X-ray. You can help your dentist determine which tooth is causing the problem by noting when and where you have sensitivity to heat or cold and to sweet, sour or sticky food, as well as approxi- mately where the pain is when you are chewing. WHY DOES A CRACKED TOOTH 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, root canal treatment may be necessary to save the tooth. HOW IS A CRACKED TOOTH TREATED? Depending on the size and location of the crack, treatment may vary from bonding to root canal treatment. A severely cracked tooth may need extraction. 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 con- tinue to have pain, avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and call your dentist. s Prepared by the ADA Division of Communications, in cooperation with The Journal of the American Dental Association. Unlike other portions of JADA, this page may be clipped and copied as a handout for patients, without first obtaining reprint permission from ADA Pub- lishing, a division of ADA Business Enterprises Inc. Any other use, copying or distribution, whether in printed or electronic form, is strictly prohibited without prior written consent of ADA Publishing. “For the Dental Patient” provides general information on dental treatments to dental patients. It is designed to prompt discussion between dentist and patient about treatment options and does not sub- stitute for the dentist’s professional assessment based on the individual patient’s needs and desires. F O R T H E D E N TA L PAT I E N T . . . Do you have a cracked tooth? Copyright ©2003 American Dental Association. All rights reserved.

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Patient 25

  • 1. JADA, Vol. 134, April 2003 531 W hen you bite down, you feel a sharp pain. It quickly disappears, and perhaps you ignore it. You avoid certain foods or chew only on one side of your mouth. Does this sound familiar? If so, you may have a cracked tooth. WHAT CAUSES A TOOTH TO CRACK? A tooth may crack due to a variety of factors: dchewing on hard objects or foods such as ice, nuts or hard candy; dan accident, such as a blow to the mouth; dgrinding and clenching your teeth; duneven chewing pressure; dstress on a tooth; dloss of a significant portion of tooth structure through wear, large fillings or other restorations; dexposure of tooth enamel to temperature extremes, such as eating hot food and then drinking ice water; dbrittleness of teeth that have undergone endodontic (root canal) treatment. HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A TOOTH IS CRACKED? It could be difficult. You may not even be able to tell which tooth hurts or whether the pain is from an upper or lower tooth. A crack may appear as a hairline fracture, running vertically along the tooth. It often is invisible to the eye and may not show even on an X-ray. You can help your dentist determine which tooth is causing the problem by noting when and where you have sensitivity to heat or cold and to sweet, sour or sticky food, as well as approxi- mately where the pain is when you are chewing. WHY DOES A CRACKED TOOTH 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, root canal treatment may be necessary to save the tooth. HOW IS A CRACKED TOOTH TREATED? Depending on the size and location of the crack, treatment may vary from bonding to root canal treatment. A severely cracked tooth may need extraction. 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 con- tinue to have pain, avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and call your dentist. s Prepared by the ADA Division of Communications, in cooperation with The Journal of the American Dental Association. Unlike other portions of JADA, this page may be clipped and copied as a handout for patients, without first obtaining reprint permission from ADA Pub- lishing, a division of ADA Business Enterprises Inc. Any other use, copying or distribution, whether in printed or electronic form, is strictly prohibited without prior written consent of ADA Publishing. “For the Dental Patient” provides general information on dental treatments to dental patients. It is designed to prompt discussion between dentist and patient about treatment options and does not sub- stitute for the dentist’s professional assessment based on the individual patient’s needs and desires. F O R T H E D E N TA L PAT I E N T . . . Do you have a cracked tooth? Copyright ©2003 American Dental Association. All rights reserved.