Cracked Tooth Syndrome

cracked tooth syndrome

Etymology: ME, craken; AS, toth

a group of symptoms caused by presence of a cracked tooth, including pain on pressure or application of cold, with pulpitis if untreated.

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Cracked Tooth Syndrome

A toothache secondary to a tooth fracture, not associated with a cavity or periodontal disease
Aetiology Chewing or biting hard objects—e.g., hard candies, pencils, nuts, ice, unpopped popcorn kernels, etc.
Diagnosis Fracture seen by painting a special dye on tooth or by low-power light microscopy
Treatment Crown; if needed, root canal

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cracked tooth syndrome,

n a transient acute pain in a tooth experienced occasionally while chewing. Difficult to locate and reproduce. Likely to occur among individuals who crack nuts and crush ice with their teeth, and among popcorn eaters. Usually a vertical crack or split in the tooth extends across a marginal ridge through the crown and into the root, involving the pulp. Visible by transilluminated light or with the use of disclosing dyes.