Sillim-dong Dentist - Why Does It Hurt When Chewing?

Hello. I am Kang Dong-ho, the director of Yonsei Uline Dental Clinic Sillim-dong Branch, located in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, near Sillim Station.

If you feel pain in a tooth when chewing,

you may wonder what could be causing it.

Most patients begin looking for a dentist

once they start experiencing pain. Ideally, these problems

would be discovered in advance during regular checkups,

but once pain begins, it is only natural to worry,

thinking, “What could be wrong?”

There are many possible reasons for pain when chewing.

In addition to the cavities or gum disease that commonly come to mind,

inflammation around the tooth root, or habitual problems such as

teeth grinding or clenching, may also be the cause.

In addition to these causes, there is another, somewhat unfamiliar one:

a tooth crack.

Teeth can also develop tiny cracks when they are used for a long time

or repeatedly exposed to strong force.

They are especially likely to occur in people who frequently chew hard foods

or have a habit of clenching their teeth at night.

These tiny cracks may not cause any noticeable symptoms at first,

but as the crack gradually extends toward the root,

it can affect the nerve and cause pain.

The problem is that these cracks are not easily visible

on imaging tests such as X-rays.

Unlike a cavity, a crack does not appear black,

and it is also difficult to see from the outside.

As a result, many patients wonder,

“Why does it hurt when I cannot see anything?”

In such cases, a presumptive diagnosis is made through clinical examinations and a medical history interview.

However, this process is not simple either.

For example, if the pain began only recently,

a tooth crack would not immediately be suspected.

This is because pain caused by a crack usually develops gradually,

with its frequency and intensity increasing over time.

Therefore, in many cases, the progress is observed

for approximately three to six months to monitor the pain pattern.

During this period, the frequency and severity of the pain,

as well as whether it occurs with specific foods or in particular situations,

are carefully recorded and monitored.

For example, if the same tooth repeatedly hurts

when chewing cold or hard foods,

and the pain gradually becomes more frequent,

it may be determined that the tooth has a crack.

If a tooth crack is diagnosed,

treatment proceeds as follows.

First, root canal treatment may be necessary.

Because the nerve is a major source of the pain,

removing it can help relieve the pain.

Afterward, crown treatment is performed

to protect the tooth.

A crown helps prevent additional

cracking caused by chewing forces.

However, it is important to understand that

a crown does not guarantee complete stabilization.

In some cases, an existing crack may continue

to progress toward the root.

In other words, treatment does not guarantee a 100% favorable prognosis.

For this reason, we always explain this to patients

before treatment.

No one can guarantee how long the tooth will remain usable,

and depending on the situation,

it may need to be extracted within a few years.

After hearing this explanation, some people say,

“Even so, I would like to try to save it if possible,”

while others decide, “If the prognosis is uncertain compared with the cost,

I would rather have it extracted.”

Sometimes, patients also ask,

“Why doesn’t the doctor make the decision for me?”

However, cracks are often difficult to diagnose definitively,

and it is not always possible to determine exactly

how far the crack has progressed.

Therefore, communication with the patient and the patient’s decision

are important when determining the course of treatment.

In summary, a tooth crack, which is one possible cause

of pain when chewing, is difficult to diagnose,

and predicting its prognosis is limited.

Even after treatment, continued monitoring is necessary,

and in some cases, the tooth may unexpectedly need to be extracted.

Therefore, it is especially important to discuss the situation thoroughly

with your dental care provider

and choose a treatment approach that suits

your circumstances and values.

The tooth cracks discussed today may sound unfamiliar,

but they are also a problem experienced by more patients than you might expect.

If pain persists or recurs,

please be sure to have it examined.