Skip to content

Crack Tooth Syndrome

Pain on biting, but disappears when the pressure is removed?

You may have a cracked tooth. A large majority of the population will have teeth with a certain degree of cracks in them. This can be from normal wear and tear, grinding habits, or filled teeth (usually with amalgam fillings).

A small crack will usually be non-symptomatic and a chance finding by the dentist. A larger crack may cause sensitivity (to hot and cold) and may lead to bacteria decay. In some cases, the crack will involve a ?back tooth? (molars) and is so large that it involves the inner dentine or pulp layer.

This is called the ?cracked tooth syndrome?.

The classic complaint will be that the area is painful on biting, but the pain ceases after the pressure has been withdrawn. It can sometimes be difficult to identify the affected tooth because the pulp has no sensory-identifying nerves. More often, the affected tooth is on the lower jaw. For the dentist, a history of extensive dental treatments involving adjustments or replacements of fillings is a telltale sign of this issue. If you think you have the above symptoms, our advice is to consult your dentist to make sure that nothing more sinister (like a pulp infection) is present first.

If you need a consult (even over the phone), we, at Image Dental are ready to help. Call (08) 9364 3996 or drop us a line at admin@imagedental.com.au.