Cracked Teeth

Cracked Tooth Syndrome & Solution in San Antonio, TX

What is Cracked-Tooth Syndrome?

Cracked-Tooth Syndrome (CTS) is a very common problem in one of your teeth. Teeth may crack when subjected to the stress of chewing hard foods or ice or biting them on an unexpected hard object. Teeth with or without restorations may exhibit this problem, but teeth restored with large restorations are most susceptible. Because fractures result from forced overtime, adults are more likely to have cracked teeth.

Symptoms And Signs May Include The Following

  • Pain on chewing.
  • Pain on cold-air application.
  • Unsolicited pain (usual leakage of sugar into tooth crack).
  • No x-ray evidence of the problem
  • No dental decay present
  • Easy verification of crack when a tooth is prepared for restoration

Treatment of Cracked Teeth

  1. Simple Crack: The majority of cracked teeth (about 9 out of 10) can be treated by placing a simple crown (cap) on the tooth. The pain usually leaves when the tooth is prepared for a crown and placed a temporary crown. If this is the case with your tooth, we will place the final crown on your next appointment. The condition should then be resolved.
  2. Complex Crack: Occasionally (about 1 in 10), the tooth cracks into the pulp (nerve) of the tooth. If pain persists after placement of the temporary crown, you may have a crack in the pulp. Please call us. This tooth may require endodontics (root canal therapy) before the crown is placed. This procedure requires about two additional appointments before the crown is placed. In some cases, the crack is so severe that the tooth may split, requiring its removal.

Have a cracked tooth? Is this happening often? Give our dental office a call today in San Antonio, TX, to schedule an appointment to have our dentist take a look.

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