Cracked teeth: assessment and treatment for Lutterworth

Recognising a cracked tooth

• a sharp, momentary pain on biting, often worst on release;
• increased sensitivity to cold;
• pain that is difficult to pin to a single tooth;
• a filling that feels high, or a tooth that feels different when chewing.

Cracks most often affect heavily filled back teeth, people who clench or grind, teeth that have bitten something unexpectedly hard and root-treated teeth without a crown.

How we find the crack

Cracks rarely appear on X-rays. The assessment combines a bite test on individual cusps, cold testing, a staining dye, a bright light shone through the tooth and close examination under magnification — sometimes after removing an old filling to inspect the floor of the cavity. We need to establish where the crack runs, how deep it goes and whether the pulp is involved.

Treatment depends on depth

• A shallow crack within the crown of the tooth can usually be contained with a bonded onlay or crown that stops the tooth flexing.
• A crack reaching the pulp inflames the nerve; the tooth then needs root canal treatment and a crown. Treated promptly, many do well.
• A stable, symptom-free crack may be monitored at your regular check-ups.
• A crack extending down the root cannot be repaired; we will say so clearly and discuss replacement with your dentist.

Why early assessment matters

Every bite advances a crack a fraction further. One that could be contained with an onlay today may reach the pulp within months and the root after that. Biting pain lasting more than a few days is reason enough for a consultation.

Protecting your other teeth

If you grind, a night guard from your dentist protects the whole mouth. Heavily filled molars are safer with cuspal coverage than with another large filling, and ice, boiled sweets and olive stones are best avoided altogether.