When you bite down and feel a sharp pain, it quickly disappears and perhaps you ignore it. You might avoid certain foods or chew on one side of your mouth. Does any of this sound familiar?

A tooth may crack due to the following reasons.

• Chewing on hard objects or foods such as ice, nuts, or hard candy
• An accident, such as a blow to the mouth
• Grinding and clenching your teeth
• Uneven chewing pressure
• Stress on a tooth
• Loss of a significant portion of tooth structure through wear, large fillings or other restorations
• Exposure of tooth enamel to temperature extremes, such as eating hot food and then drinking ice water
• Brittleness of teeth with root canal

It is difficult to tell if a tooth is cracked. You may not be able to identify which tooth hurts or if the discomfort is from an upper or lower tooth. The crack may appear as a hairline fracture and runs vertically along the tooth. It is often invisible to the eye and may not show up on an x-ray.

It helps Dr. Marcus when you can determine which tooth is causing the problem by noting when and where you have sensitivity to cold, heat, sweet, sour or sticky foods, and also when you are chewing.

A cracked tooth may hurt due to the pressure of biting and chewing as this will cause the crack to open up. When the biting or chewing stops, the pressure is released and causes a sharp pain as the crack quickly closes. The pulp may become irritated and sensitive to temperature extremes when the crack opens up, even if the crack is a microscopic one. The pulp is a soft tissue that contains the tooth’s blood vessels and nerves. Endodontic treatment (root canal) may become necessary to save the tooth if it becomes damaged or diseased as a result of the crack.

Treatment may vary from bonding to a crown to hold the tooth together depending on the size and location of the crack. If the tooth is severely cracked and cannot be saved, it will have to be removed.

Tiny cracks are common and usually do not cause any problems. Regular dental checkups are important and they allow Dr. Marcus to diagnose and treat problems in the early stages. If discomfort continues, avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and call Dr. Marcus.