Cracked Tooth
Cracked tooth syndrome is one of the trickiest dental problems to diagnose: the tooth often looks fine and X-rays can appear normal, yet biting on it produces a distinct, sharp jolt.
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A crack behaves like a hinge.
When you bite, the crack opens slightly; when you release, it snaps shut and the nerve fires. That's why the classic symptom is pain on releasing a bite rather than on clenching down.
Cracks propagate. Treated early, a crown or onlay can hold the tooth together for years. Left too long, the crack reaches the nerve or splits the root, and the tooth is lost.
Classic warning signs.
The signs vary, but most people notice one or more of these:
- 01Sharp pain on biting, especially on release
- 02Sensitivity to cold that fades quickly
- 03Pain from only one specific spot
- 04Discomfort with hard or crunchy food
- 05A rough line or edge you can feel
- 06A filled or root-treated tooth that aches
Where it comes from.
The most common culprits:
Don't wait it out.
Speak to your our practice dentist if you're experiencing any of the following — book an appointment as soon as you can:
- —Biting produces a sharp, repeatable twinge.
- —Pain occurs on releasing a bite.
- —One tooth reacts to cold far more than the rest.
- —You've broken a cusp or feel a rough edge.
In discomfort right now?
Constant throbbing, night pain or swelling suggests the crack has reached the nerve — that needs urgent assessment for root canal treatment.
A plan, not a quick fix.
We use bite tests, transillumination and magnification to locate the crack, then protect the tooth with an onlay or crown before it splits further.
