One of the most perplexing problems a dentist faces is split or cracked tooth syn¬drome. Adult patients usually experience this problem. It is caused by a hairline fracture that extends through the crown of the tooth and into the pulp or nerve. Gen¬erally, the tooth is a molar or bicuspid that already has a large or deep filling.

One of the symptoms of split-tooth syndrom is a sharp pain upon biting. The pain does not last long and the patient may not be able to tell precisely which tooth hurts. The pain may not occur all the time. It may only occur when the patient bites down a certain way. The tooth may also be sensitive to cold temperatures.

Diagnosis of this problem is a chal¬lenge and requires a bit of detective work. The dentist will use a variety of tests to identify the cracked tooth. X-rays are not always helpful because the fractueres are very fine and may not show up. A red stain may be used to allow the dentist to see the crack better. The dentist may re¬move the filling in the suspected tooth to get a better look inside for any possible cracks. If the fracture has not caused ex-tensive structural damage of the tooth, it may still be saved. The nerve of the tooth would have to be removed by root canal therapy and a well fitting crown or cap must be made to hold the fractured pieces together. If the fracture is too extensive, the tooth may have to be removed. To avoid this, teeth that your dentist feels are at a high risk for fracture should be capped before split-tooth occurs.

Presented in the interest of promoting a better dental health environment from the office of: Frank Soltiz, DDS 13367 Broadway Alden, New York 14004 937-7812