Science explains a lot of things, especially regarding the anatomy of our teeth. Some people possess seemingly perfect teeth. But looking deeper with the help of X-rays, we can see that the superficial appearance of the teeth conceals some hairline cracks on the surface of the teeth, beneath the gum line or in-between teeth, where we can’t see them. There is a perfectly logical explanation for this, as some people tend to bite harder than others, causing the pressure to be felt by the surface of the teeth. This condition is called “Cracked Tooth Syndrome”. It is common for people who have weak or sensitive teeth to have this condition. Depending on your ancestry, ethnicity, or race, and more importantly, eating habits, your teeth may be prone to being cracked easily. Other factors that contribute to cracked teeth include: bruxism (or involuntary grinding of teeth), negligence in brushing teeth/flossing, and  having underwent a previous operation on the teeth, like a root canal or a poorly filled molar.

Apparently, this condition is signaled by “phantom pain”, as patients may call it, because they can see in the mirror that their teeth are perfectly fine and have no visible cracks or sills. But by a more precise inspection (via X-rays), the dentist could see multiple cracks on the surface of the teeth, which cannot be seen by the naked eye. Diagnosis of cracked tooth syndrome may prove to be difficult on the part of the dentist, since he will rely on sharp tools, like an “explorer” to probe your teeth for any irregularities. Also note that an X-ray, in some cases, does not reveal any minuscule cracks because they may be microscopic. The dentist may use another instrument, which is similar to a toothbrush—only without the bristles—and make you bite it down. If you feel any sharp pain when biting the instrument, there may be a crack affecting your tooth. Normally, the molars are the most prone to cracks and sills, but that does not leave the incisors, canine and the bicuspids out of the equation. Surely enough, the dentist will pinpoint the cause of pain.

Other methods of finding the crack, other than those mentioned above, is by using fiber-optic light on the tooth or by blotting it with a special dye to look for any hairline cracks. In line with these procedures, your teeth will have to be thoroughly brushed to expose the surface of the tooth. Cracks, as mentioned may affect different parts of the tooth. The palatal, distal, mesial, occlusal, cusp, buccal, furcation, and the groove are the different surfaces of the tooth that can be cracked.

Sometimes cracks extend to the innermost portion of the tooth – either the dentin or the pulp. This can make the treatment a bit more complicated, since the dentist will be dealing with a sensitive portion of the tooth. There is also the possibility of undergoing root canal if the crack has extended into the nerves of the tooth. Superficial cracks, however, are likely to be resolved using composite fillings. Multiple cracks on one tooth can call for a crown installation.

The pain, in some cases, cannot be entirely relieved. Neighboring teeth can also be affected by cracked tooth syndrome. It is imperative that you request a thorough examination of your teeth, as well as pinpointing all the places of your teeth that feel pain.

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