Do you have a tooth you tend to avoid when chewing? You may have a difficult-to-diagnose problem called “cracked tooth syndrome.” Dr. Linda Niessen explains this common condition in today’s segment of Dental Health Check. THE STORY (Video of broadcast follows)
Three months ago, Carla Obara developed a pain in her lower back molar. It hurt when she chewed."I thought it was just a sensitive tooth. And then it started hurting when I bite down on food. From there, it just got worse. Every time I would chew anything, it would hurt, even gum," said Carla.
Carla has a very common problem: cracked tooth syndrome. It usually affects teeth that have large fillings in them.
"And it just got worse, the pain. And then Monday, it just cracked when I was eating," Carla added.
Cracked tooth syndrome symptoms are (click image to enlarge):
;)
* Pain upon release of biting pressure;* Sensitivity to hot, cold or sweets.
Dentist Dr. Jeff Roy tells us, "A cracked tooth is a tooth that when it’s loaded, it moves independently of itself. It flexes. And a long those fracture lines, there is sharp sensation or pain."
Dentists can diagnose cracked tooth syndrome by having the patient bite down on the suspicious tooth."These things are as frustrating for the dentist as the patient sometimes. It’s hard to reproduce it in the office," said Dr. Roy.
X-rays may or may not be helpful in diagnosing cracked tooth syndrome. In Carla’s case, the x-rays showed no problem.
"We want to catch that crack early before it gets to the nerve or down to the root surface and you lose the tooth," Dr. Roy added.
Carla is lucky. The fractured tooth can be saved with a porcelain crown.
If you have pain when you bite down, suspect a cracked tooth as the cause of the problem,. especially if you have large fillings in your back teeth or molars. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M Health Science Center, I’m Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.
For Inquiries:
Dr. Jeff Roy
4301 N. MacArthur
Suite 100
Irving, TX 75038
972-255-3712
www.21stcenturydental.com
THE BROADCAST
STORY: CRACKED TOOTH SYNDROME
SCRIPT #848 SHOOT: 7/10/07
AIRDATE: Monday, August 27, 2007
DHC Master #22 Timecode: 30:00
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