Cracked tooth syndrome: What Is It?
Unlike teeth with obvious fractures, teeth with cracked tooth syndrome usually have fractures that are too small to be seen on X-rays.  Sometimes the fracture is below the gum line, or under an existing crown making it even more difficult to identify.  Cracked tooth syndrome more often occurs in molars, usually lower molars, which absorb most of the forces of chewing.  People who grind or clench their teeth may be more susceptible to cracked tooth syndrome because of the constant forces put on their teeth.  Sometimes a person’s normal bite causes certain molar cusps (the highest points of the tooth) to exert so much pressure on the opposing tooth that it cracks.  Teeth with large fillings or teeth that have undergone root canal treatment are weaker than other teeth and may be more likely to crack.  People with one cracked tooth are more likely to have others, either at the same time or in the future.  In our office we use special instruments to help identify cracked teeth and recomend treatment before tooth fracture occurs.