Cracked tooth syndrome is a surprisingly common problem that affects many people. The most common cause is related to teeth with large fillings in them. As Dr. Jay Selznick explains, ?since more people have fillings these days, this leads to an increase in the amount of people affected by this syndrome?. ?Tooth decay and large fillings can cause a weakening in the tooth structure over time?, explains Dr. Jay Selznick. ?This can cause a hairline fracture to develop along the bottom half of the filling.? The result is often painful but treatable.

If you grind your teeth you can create increased stresses and strains on your teeth and increase the chance that you will develop Cracked Tooth Syndrome. ?Also, if you have filings that need to be replaced, filings that are no longer filling the cavity, or new cavities, you increase the risk factors that you will develop this condition?, explained Dr. Jay Selznick.

The main reason Cracked Tooth Syndrome can accompany pain is because the tooth is stimulating the tooth nerve due to the flexing of the tooth. Since the tooth is no longer anchored in the gums properly, the tooth moves more freely and therefore the nerves can become inflamed. These hairline cracks open and close which applies pressure on tubules that run down and along the nerve of the tooth. This causes fluid to push and pull on the tooth's nerve resulting in the pain you feel. Dr. Jay Selznick also warns that the nerve of the cracked tooth is also being exposed to bacterial toxins that can become inflamed making it sensitive. This can allow infections to spread to the nerve and bone tissue underneath. The result, said Dr. Jay Selznick, can be an abscess. If further left untreated, the result can lead to the need for a root canal surgery or tooth extraction.

So, what are the symptoms and diagnois of CTS?

As Dr. Jay Selznick explains, CTS symptoms include sensitivity to hot and cold foods or drinks and pain upon the release of biting pressure. Although these symptoms do not necessarily indicate that you have CTS, you should see your doctor immediately to make sure you don't develop a more serious situation down the road.

Diagnosis by Dr. Jay Selznick includes a thorough dental history exam, checking for trauma, or history of trauma, reviewing the bite and examining the teeth. After this, Dr. Jay Selznick often recommend an X-Ray. Self diagnosis can be as simple as checking hot and cold sensitivity. If a sharp pain is felt with temperature, and the pain then rapidly diminishes with the removal of the hot or cold item, then a fracture is likely.

The Solution

A fracture will most likely not improve on its own and will eventually need to be treated. Teeth do have a limited ability to heal themselves. Unfortunately, fractured teeth do not heal themselves like other bones in your body. The only real solution to hold the tooth together and to prevent the tooth from breaking is with a crown. Crowns allow chewing forces to move the entire tooth rather than splitting it apart. The full crown is bonded over the entire tooth to seal all the small cracks and prevent bacterial leakage thus allowing the nerve to recover and stabilize. Dr. Jay Selznick also warns that if not treated the tooth can break off resulting in much more pain.

?It really doesn't make sense to live with the pain?, explains Dr. Jay Selznick. ?The longer you put off the procedure the more likely you will need more extensive treatment later in life."