You may have a very commonly occuring problem in one of your teeth. Teeth may crack when subjected to the stress of chewing hard foods or ice, or by biting on an unexpected hard object. Teeth with or without restorations may exhibit this problem, but teeth restored with typical silver alloy restorations are most susceptible.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

1. Pain on chewing
2. Pain on cold air application
3. Unsolicited pain (usually leakage of sugar into tooth crack)
4. No radiographic evidence of a problem
5. No dental decay present
6. Easy verification of crack when tooth is prepared for restoration

TREATMENT FOR CRACKED TEETH

1 - SIMPLE CRACK: The majority of cracked teeth (about nine out of ten) can be treated by placement of a crown on the tooth. When the tooth is prepared for the crown, and a temporary restoration is placed, the pain usually stops immediately or by the next appointment. If this is the case with your tooth, we will place the final crown without a problem at your next appointment and the condition should be solved.

2 - COMPLEX CRACK: Occasionally (about one in ten) the tooth cracks into the pulp (nerve) of the tooth. If the pain persists or gets worse after placement of the temporary crown, you may have a crack into the pulp of the affected tooth. Please call us. This tooth may require endodontics (root canal therapy) before the crown is placed. This requires an additional appointment with a dental specialist before the crown is placed.