Cracked tooth syndrome

Cracked tooth syndrome
Classification and external resources
Cross-section of a posterior tooth.
ICD-9	521.81

Cracked tooth syndrome (abbreviated CTS) is a medical condition in which a partial crack extends through the dentin, and occasionally through the pulp of a tooth.^[1]

Classification

Since there is a fairly extensive list of classifications for cracked teeth, it is often difficult for doctors to find a correct diagnosis.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary, however CTS is characterized by sharp fleeting pain intitiated only when biting on an object, not just when the tooth contacts another tooth. The pain is inconsistent, and frequently hard to reproduce.

Diagnosis

When diagnosing cracked tooth syndrome, a doctor takes many factors into consideration. A bite-test is commonly performed to confirm the diagnosis, in which the patient bites down on either a Q-tip, cotton roll, or a medical instrument called the Tooth Slooth.^[1][2]

Treatments

• Root Canal
• Stabilization (a band is placed around the tooth to minimize flexing)
• Crown tooth

References

1. ^ ^{a b} The Cracked Tooth Syndrome, 68, Canadian Dental Association, September 2002, http://www.cda-adc.ca/jcda/vol-68/issue-8/470.pdf 
2. ^ Patient Education about Cracked Teeth, Tooth Slooth, 12 December 2005, http://www.toothslooth.com/Education.html