Cracked Tooth Syndrome
Cracked tooth syndrome is a very common problem, most often found in the posterior teeth. Hairline cracks in the tooth can make teeth very cold sensitive. These teeth are often sensitive to biting hard or chewy foods.
Causes – Large fillings, decay, bruxism, trauma.
Diagnosis – Transillumination and a bite test done by your dentist. Symptoms are irregular bite and/or cold sensitivity. Hard foods like pretzels are the most common trigger of the bite pain.
Treatment – A crown is indicated in many cases, though a filling or onlay can work if a single tooth cusp is determined to be the culprit and no deep cracks are found. Some of these teeth will need a root canal as well. If a tooth is cracked into the root structure, the tooth may have to be extracted.