Early Diagnosis and Proper Treatment of Cracked tooth

Kim,  Sin-Young

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 57(7); 2019 > Article

The Journal of The Korean Dental Association 2019;57(7):403-411.
Published online July 31, 2019.

Cracked tooth (금이 간 치아)의 조기 진단 및 적절한 치료

김신영

가톨릭대학교 서울성모병원 치과보존과

Early Diagnosis and Proper Treatment of Cracked tooth

Sin-Young Kim

Department of Conservative Dentistry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea

Abstract

A cracked tooth is defined as an incomplete fracture initiated from the crown and extending subgingivally and usually directed mesiodistally. Cracked teeth were most frequently involved in mandibular and maxillary molars at the age of 50s. Cracks occurred mainly in nonbonded restorations such as gold and amalgam, and majority of cracks were found in intact teeth. A pulpal and periapical diagnosis is dependent on the extent of the crack and duration of the symptom. The pulp of a cracked tooth might become inflamed because of microleakage, which induces thermal sensitivity. Once the crack has extended and exposed the pulp, severe pulp and periapical pathosis will likely be present. In addition, the extended crack can cause a bony dehiscence with a resulting narrow and deep periodontal pocket. Therefore, early diagnosis of the cracked tooth and proper treatment planning are important for clinician.

Key Words: cracked tooth;characteristics;pulp status;periodontal status;