Whether you need a routine teeth cleaning, bridges or crowns, you want a dentist you can trust and count on, someone who will take the time to make your dental health a priority. Dr. Robert Petrtyl is a Cincinnati-based dentist with over 30 years of experience in providing high-quality general, restorative, and pediatric dentistry services.

One of the dental conditions that Dr. Petrtyl frequently treats is cracked tooth syndrome, an issue that most often occurs in the molars, particularly the lower ones, which absorb the impact of chewing. People who grind or clench their teeth, who are older (and thus, simply due to age, have weaker teeth), or whose normal bite exerts a lot of pressure on the other teeth are also at risk for cracked tooth syndrome. Teeth that have big fillings or that have undergone root canals are weaker than your other teeth and are more likely to crack.

Symptoms of a cracked tooth include pain and sensitivity to cold. However, it can be surprisingly difficult to realize that you’ve got a cracked tooth in the first place: the pain won’t be constant, like it would be if you had an abscess, and might only show up when you eat certain foods or when you bite down a certain way. In fact, people can go for months without knowing that they have a cracked tooth. Once you do realize it, though, you’ll need to make an appointment with your dentist right away.

The damage from cracked tooth syndrome is minuscule, and dentists generally can’t use the X-ray machine to find out which tooth is suffering, so your dentist will likely have you perform a bite test until he or she finds the source of the pain. Other techniques to find out which tooth is cracked can include shining a fiber optic light in your mouth or using a dye to stain your teeth and make the cracks visible.

The treatment for cracked tooth syndrome can vary depending on the location and severity of the crack. Cracks can be superficial and one of our most frequent uses of composite fillings is to repair cracked teeth. Many teeth that have had amalgam fillings become damaged due to the expansion and contraction of amalgam fillings that are subjected to temperature changes in the mouth. We don’t give it much thought as we eat and drink, however ice cream for dessert, followed by a cup of hot coffee does place stress on tooth enamel, over the years.

Cracks can be more serious, with the tooth splitting down to the root. Treatments can include root canals, restoration with a crown, or even, in an extreme case, tooth extraction. If the tooth does have to come out, you can have it replaced with an implant or bridge.

As always, one of the best ways to treat a dental condition is prevention, so if you habitually grind or clench your teeth, speak with your dentist about ways to prevent cracked tooth syndrome.

If you’re experiencing cracked tooth syndrome or are looking for general, restorative, or pediatric dentistry services in the Cincinnati area, call (513) 554-4657 or go online and make an appointment with Dr. Robert Petrtyl today.