Fractured Teeth; Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment Options by East Longmeadow, MA DMD Joe Commisso

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Many patients present to our office with pain to temperatures or chewing. These symptoms could be a sign that a tooth is fractured. There are many different stages of tooth fractures. One can have a craze line or chip that requires little or no treatment or a vertically split tooth that may require an extraction.

Diagnosis of a fractured tooth can be difficult. Dentists initially must try and rule out other causes of discomfort. Since some teeth will have no visible signs of cracks, diagnosis can be a challenge. One must evaluate all teeth in an area causing pain. Sometimes teeth will little or no restorations can be the culprit. Many times patients have trouble localizing the cause of the pain and cannot tell if the pain is coming from the upper or lower teeth.

Testing for a tooth fracture can be done by shining light thru the tooth to see a fracture line, by using a bite stick or tooth sloth or using a rubber wheel to see if the symptoms can be triggered in one specific tooth. A fractured tooth will frequently be more sensitive to thermal testing as well.

Treatment of minor chips or craze lines can be accomplished by smoothing off the area or applying a small restoration to fill in the chip. Cuspal fractures or fractures that affect a larger portion of tooth structure can be repaired with a larger restoration such as an Onlay or Crown. Cracked teeth will sometimes require root canal treatment if the nerve of the tooth is involved and then a crown is still needed to help support the tooth. Finally, severely split teeth may require an extraction and replacement with a partial, fixed bridge, or an implant.

If one is having unexplained symptoms with a tooth, they should follow up with their dentist. A tooth´s condition can progress from a craze line/chip to a severely fractured tooth if left untreated. In most cases if caught early small fractures can be restored by a dentist and have no further symptoms. By having regular exams and cleanings teeth can be evaluated and if needed treated early to avoid more costly treatment.

If you have any questions about fractured teeth and treatment options please feel free to contact us at 413-525-6123 or email reception@meadowplacedental.com. Visit our educational website at

www.meadowplacedental.com