There is no single test that finds every crack. The tooth may look normal on an x-ray, the bite test may be negative, and symptoms can be intermittent. The crack may also be hidden beneath an old filling.
How Do We Diagnose a Cracked Tooth?
Diagnosis usually comes from these methods:
- Combining the history with magnification — Using magnification, your dentist can pinpoint small cracks and fractures in your tooth.
- Cold testing — A cold test can indicate an infection inside your tooth if you experience lingering sensitivity.
- Bite testing — This test shows how your bite comes together, which can indicate a cracked tooth.
- Transillumination — A test where a focused beam of light is shown through a tooth to spot micro-cracks, which show up as shadows.
- X-rays — X-rays can give a picture of what is happening internally with a tooth.
- Examination after an old restoration is removed — We may find bacteria and decay lodged beneath an old restoration like a crown or filling, causing damage or an infection.
Your Brisbane dentist may combine multiple diagnostic procedures to determine the severity of your cracked tooth.
We invite you to contact Edward St Dental on (07) 3221 5855 to book an exam to diagnose a cracked tooth.