How does a dentist test for a cracked tooth?

By: admin
Published: May 2nd, 2009

How does the dentist know if a tooth is cracked or not?

x-ray and I have also had them touch the tooth with a splinter of ice…ouch!

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This entry was posted on Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 at 9:13 pm and is filed under dentist. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

15 Comments on “How does a dentist test for a cracked tooth?”

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  1. 1. Andrew
    May 3rd, 2009 at 3:01 am

    x-rays mostly.
    References :

  2. 2. lil southern girl
    May 3rd, 2009 at 3:45 am

    Other than an obviously visual sign, x-rays.
    References :

  3. 3. Charlie Murphy
    May 3rd, 2009 at 4:28 am

    He can tell a cracker tooth because its attached to a racist white cracker, yo
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  4. 4. dr h lecter
    May 3rd, 2009 at 5:16 am

    yes charlie, would be terrible to be racist wouldnt it.
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  5. 5. karen h
    May 3rd, 2009 at 5:42 am

    if its not visible to the naked eye..he can do an x ray which will show it.
    References :

  6. 6. nin
    May 3rd, 2009 at 5:48 am

    x-ray and I have also had them touch the tooth with a splinter of ice…ouch!
    References :

  7. 7. KNOWALL
    May 3rd, 2009 at 5:59 am

    He hits it with a hammer if it rings it's ok !
    References :

  8. 8. steve guttenberg
    May 3rd, 2009 at 6:43 am

    Visual inspection and X-rays are the standard to determine any damage to a tooth. A damaged tooth may not cause immediate pain or result in immediate problems, but if it's left untreated, the tooth can develop into a more serious problem.
    References :

  9. 9. Quizard
    May 3rd, 2009 at 7:21 am

    X-ray to confirm if the dentist suspects it is cracked
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  10. 10. bergy700
    May 3rd, 2009 at 7:33 am

    he or she will have you bite down on a plastic stick, It's called a tooth sleuth.somtimes they show on the x-ray or intra oral photos.
    References :
    former RDA

  11. 11. Margaret C
    May 3rd, 2009 at 8:07 am

    To be honest xrays won't usually show a crack in a tooth. Cracked teeth usually have a range of symptoms, and not all will show the same ones, but typically a cracked tooth will be
    1/ painful to temperature change
    2/ painful to bite on (usually more when you release the bite than when you bite down, but this isn't always the case…)

    Sometimes the crack is obvious to the naked eye, and sometimes the filling needs to be removed and you can see it then. You can get someone to bite on a piece of plastic or cotton wool to try and see if it is painful. You can also shine a bright light through the tooth- the crack will show up as the cracked part won't transmit the light like non-cracked tooth.

    They can be a bit of a problem to find though………
    References :
    I'm a dentist

  12. 12. ArchWired.com Braces Website
    May 3rd, 2009 at 8:52 am

    X-rays often do NOT show a crack in a tooth. Sometimes, unfortunately, it can be a very difficult thing to diagnose, even if you have the best dentist in the world. This is called "Cracked Tooth Syndrome."

    If there are no obvious signs of a crack, and you are suddenly experiencing sensitivity or pain in one tooth, chances are it could be cracked. Do not ignore this, because if the crack goes too deep (down to the root for example), the tooth may not be able to be saved.

    Depending on the type of crack, the dentist may be able to repair it with composite bonding material. However, it may be necessary to crown the tooth instead. If root damage has occurred, a root canal may be necessary. If the tooth is beyond repair, it may need to be extracted.
    References :
    http://www.archwired.com

    and….I have a cracked tooth that I need to have crowned, so this is also from my personal experience.

  13. 13. ???SILENTRAGE???
    May 3rd, 2009 at 9:15 am

    exrays usually
    References :

  14. 14. Katrina G
    May 3rd, 2009 at 10:01 am

    it depends where it is. the dentist would take an Xray of the tooth the crack will seem to be a different colour to the rest if it is cracked.
    References :

  15. 15. bobbi b
    May 3rd, 2009 at 10:13 am

    Depends on exactly what you mean by a cracked tooth.

    A fractured tooth after trauma may be x-rayed to show a horizontal fracture under the gum or bone.

    If however you are talking about a vertically cracked tooth that will not show up on a radiograph. It can only be diagnosised by visual inspection or by use of biting on something such as tooth-sleuth or cotton wool.

    Often the dentist suspects a cracked cusp but can not prove it and the only way to find the crack is to remove any fillings and then press on the tooth tissue that remainsm a cusp at a time and see if that cusp falls off!

    Not very scientific but can be very effective.
    References :
    Too many years a dental surgeon

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