Symptomatic Cracked Teeth: Patient And Tooth Factors—Case-Control Study

To investigate patient-level and tooth-level risk factors associated with symptomatic cracked teeth through a case-control study. The case-control study included 100 symptomatic cracked tooth patients and matched controls. Patient-level (demographics and oral behaviors) and tooth-level parameters (type, location, crack location and cuspal inclination) were respectively assessed through questionnaires and clinical examinations. Univariate logistic regression analysis assessed the relationships between patient-level or tooth-level parameters and the occurrence of cracked teeth. Significant parameters (p ≤ 0.1) underwent multivariate analysis. Cuspal angles were compared using an independent samples t-test. Cracked teeth were most common in individuals aged 30–39, primarily affecting the maxillary first molar. Key risk factors included hard food consumption, unilateral chewing, dental caries, deep overbite, Angle’s Class II malocclusion, and Class I occlusal wear. In maxillary first and second molars (four cusps), cracked teeth were significantly linked to mesiobuccal, mesiolingual, and distolingual cusp inclinations (p < 0.05). For three-cusped maxillary second molars, the distobuccal cusp was associated with cracking (p < 0.05). In mandibular first molars, all cusps except the distolingual showed significant cusp tilting associations (p < 0.05) Eating hard food, unilateral chewing, dental caries, deep overbite, Class II malocclusion, wear and a steep cuspal inclination angle were all associated with cracked teeth. The information may facilitate the development of an effective and results-oriented prevention strategy.