Rehabilitation of a Cracked Tooth: A Case Report

A cracked tooth is a tooth in which there exists a partial or complete fracture of a stress plane. The prevalence of cracked teeth is relatively more in patients over 40 years of age. The incidence of cracks or incomplete tooth fracture with vital pulps is 9.7%. The average biting loads in humans range from 45.7kg/mm2 (males) to 36.4kg/mm2 (females) and the force ratio between molars, premolars, and incisors is 4:2:1 respectively. A tooth stress plane results from occlusal forces that are commonly imposed on that tooth. This may cause an instance of higher energy to occur within the stress plane during masticatory cycle. The functional prognosis and periodontal treatment requirements of a cracked or incompletely fractured tooth depend on the location and amount of tooth structure intersected along with involvement in the stress plane. This case report highlights the diagnosis and management of a cracked maxillary first molar and identifies the prognostic indicators, which are largely dependent on the extent of the fracture within the tooth structure. Keywords: Crack tooth; Orthodontic banding; Ribbond; Bite test; Transillumination