Cracked Teeth

Because we live longer and more stressful lives, we expose our teeth to many more years of crack-inducing habits such as clenching, grinding, and chewing on complex objects. These habits make our teeth more susceptible to cracks. Dr. Ahn may treat a cracked tooth to prevent further damage to the tooth structure and tissue.

Cracked teeth may not show any visible signs of damage but will present various symptoms: usually, intermittent pain when chewing and pain or sensitivity to heat and cold. The pain may come and go in many cases, making it difficult for a doctor to locate.

Some patients with moderately to severely marked cracked teeth increased with the severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Why Cracked Teeth Hurt

When the outer hard tissues of the tooth are cracked, chewing can cause movement of the pieces, and the pulp ( tooth nerve ) can become irritated. When biting pressure is released, the crack can close quickly, resulting in momentary, sharp pain.

Irritation of the dental pulp can be repeated many times by chewing. Eventually, the pulp will become damaged to the point where it can no longer heal itself. The tooth will not only hurt when chewing but may also become sensitive to temperature extremes.

In time, a cracked tooth may begin to hurt all by itself. Extensive cracks can lead to infection of the pulp tissue that spreads to the bone and gum tissue around the tooth.

What are the Classic Signs

Cracked tooth syndrome is characterized by acute pain on mastication (pressure or release) of grainy, tough foods and sharp, brief pain with cold. However, cracked teeth may be present with various symptoms, ranging from slight to very severe spontaneous pain.

How to Treat Cracked Teeth

An endodontist can save a cracked tooth by performing root canal treatment based on a pulpal and periapical diagnosis followed by fabricating a full-coverage crown.