How do I know if my tooth is cracked?

silvercar

MrHeisenberg wrote: »

I see. Problem is cracks tend to grow over time so a crown may help strengthen the tooth. It is likely that you would need a root canal though, after a crown is fitted, as the process of fitting a crown tends to kill the tooth (and might propagate the crack too).

All reasons not to fit a crown at the present time. At the moment it is a relatively healthy tooth with a hairline crack in it that isn't causing a problem.

How long have you had the crack for?

Years.

ripplyuk

MrHeisenberg wrote: »

I am still not convinced one of my teeth aren't cracked too. I have noticed when I brush a single tooth with an electric toothbrush it triggers the pain. Anyone else experienced this?

I’ve been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (I’m not sure I agree with this diagnosis though). One of the questions the consultant asked me was ‘Does brushing your teeth trigger it?’ For me, the answer was no but he said it was a very common trigger.

I’ve also had a cracked tooth. A big first molar. Nothing showed on x-ray. My dentist suspected a crack but told me he couldn’t know for sure until it was extracted. I chose to go ahead and when the tooth was removed, he discovered that there was a crack which extended all the way up through the root. I’ve never had pain on that side of my face since. However, this tooth also had a very large, old, amalgam filling so it was weak already.

Toothsmith

More amazing Dental insights from Simone Mary

MrHeisenberg

ripplyuk wrote: »

I’ve been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (I’m not sure I agree with this diagnosis though). One of the questions the consultant asked me was ‘Does brushing your teeth trigger it?’ For me, the answer was no but he said it was a very common trigger.

I’ve also had a cracked tooth. A big first molar. Nothing showed on x-ray. My dentist suspected a crack but told me he couldn’t know for sure until it was extracted. I chose to go ahead and when the tooth was removed, he discovered that there was a crack which extended all the way up through the root. I’ve never had pain on that side of my face since. However, this tooth also had a very large, old, amalgam filling so it was weak already.

I see, interesting.

I think the most dentists are unwilling to put their heads on the chopping block in terms of whether or not a tooth may be cracked. What made your dentist press ahead and extract the tooth?

I'm presuming your ongoing pain is in a different area?

Yep, I'm far from convinced that my trigeminal neuralgia (TN) diagnosis is correct too.

I recently consulted another oral surgeon who thinks my tooth may be cracked, but he think TN is more likely.

MrHeisenberg

Toothsmith wrote: »

More amazing Dental insights from Simone Mary

Haha... Be nice.

MrHeisenberg

simone_mary wrote: »

This is actually common problem to all of us i think you should check your x-ray first.

Problem is cracks don't always appear on x-rays, nor cone beam CT scans.Same can be said if a root canal treatment fails.

brook2jack

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MrHeisenberg

How do dentists check for tiny cracks these days?

Also, how can one be sure a root canal treatment has not failed?

All my symptoms seem to suggest to me that I may not be suffering from TN. e.g. a chronic cough that no consultant seems to pinpoint/diagnose and pain that seems to radiate to the top of my head on the same side as the jaw pain.

ripplyuk

MrHeisenberg wrote: »

I see, interesting.

I think the most dentists are unwilling to put their heads on the chopping block in terms of whether or not a tooth may be cracked. What made your dentist press ahead and extract the tooth?

I'm presuming your ongoing pain is in a different area?.

Yes, my pain is on the other side of my face. It started after having the other first molar extracted (Not the cracked one. A failed repeat root canal). The extraction was a bit rough and long winded. It took almost an hour. That side of my face went numb for weeks after and then the pain started. I changed dentists after that.

I’m not sure what made my dentist confident that the tooth was cracked. I think it was because of the huge filling which he knew made a crack likely. He did warn me that he could not be certain and it was my decision.

MrHeisenberg

ripplyuk wrote: »

Yes, my pain is on the other side of my face. It started after having the other first molar extracted (Not the cracked one. A failed repeat root canal). The extraction was a bit rough and long winded. It took almost an hour. That side of my face went numb for weeks after and then the pain started. I changed dentists after that.

I’m not sure what made my dentist confident that the tooth was cracked. I think it was because of the huge filling which he knew made a crack likely. He did warn me that he could not be certain and it was my decision.

I see. How long have you had the pain for and is it constant?

I'm surprised your dentist took the risk with the cracked tooth, as I imagine most would not.

Teeth can be a real nightmare! I have become almost neurotic these days in terms of oral hygiene and dental health.