Straight Teeth in Less Time
Chronic Tooth Pain But No Cavities? It Might Be Cracked Tooth Syndrome
Lois Murray
Having chronic pain in a tooth is something that no one wants to go through, so it can be frustrating to find out that you don't have an infection or a cavity to blame for the pain you're experiencing. It's possible that you're experiencing a problem called cracked tooth syndrome. Here's what you need to know about this condition.
What is Cracked Tooth Syndrome?
Cracked tooth syndrome is very similar to having an ordinarily cracked tooth. The issue is, with cracked tooth syndrome, you only have a hairline fracture in the tooth that can be difficult to detect. This condition is often not found by x-rays or dental examinations, especially if the crack has occurred underneath the surface of the gums.
Why Does it Hurt?
Even though the crack is only superficial, that doesn't mean that it has no impact on your teeth. There are two potential reasons why you're experiencing pain.
The first is that your tooth is cracked and the nerves inside the tooth may have been damaged when the crack occurred. When nerves are damaged, they often experience a condition called neuropathy that creates pain or numbness in the area.
In addition, though the crack may be small, it may still be large enough to allow a small amount of fluids or foreign bodies into the crack. If the inner pulp of your tooth comes into contact with drinks, for example, you could experience a great deal of pain. This part of the tooth is never normally exposed to the open air or fluids, and it's packed full of nerves that can respond very painfully when touched.
Treatment
The first thing your dentist will do is perform a special test to check you for a cracked tooth. This is usually performed with a special dye that reacts to light. When the fluid of the dye enters the crack, it leaves a mark on the tooth that can be seen by your dentist.
If a crack is detected, there are two options. The first is that your dentist will attempt to seal it. However, with the damage that's been done, that may not be enough to stop your pain.
If you continue to experience pain, your dentist will perform a root canal to preserve the tooth but to remove the part that hurts. This will not only allow them to fully seal the crack from the inside and the outside, but it will remove the pulp that's sensitive in the first place. As a result, you shouldn't have any pain after a root canal. To learn more, contact an office like Emergency Tooth Doctor.
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I had braces when I was a kid. Back then, you had to wear those metal wires and rubber bands for what seemed like forever. When I saw that my child’s teeth were going to be crooked like mine, I was dreading the years of braces and orthodontist appointments and limited diets that I saw stretching ahead of us. I was pleased to find out that braces today are very different from braces when I was a kid. They don’t need to be worn for nearly as long, and they aren’t as intrusive, either. My daughter got braces that can barely be seen, and she can remove them when she eats, so she doesn’t have to give up her favorite foods. I was so impressed that I started a blog to talk about modern day tooth straightening techniques. Braces have come a long way.