When a Molar Breaks or a Tooth Develops a Crack: The Sharp Pain You Feel and Why a Crown Must Be Placed After Root Canal Treatment at Garak Market Station Dental Clinic, Plus Prevention Tips

Hello.

This is Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic at Garak Market Station.

Have you ever felt a sharp, stabbing pain while eating?

If you look at the tooth in the mirror and it seems fine even though you clearly had pain in that area,

it may be a case of a tiny crack in the tooth.

Tooth cracks are often not easily visible to the naked eye,

and sometimes there are even tiny cracks that are difficult to detect with X-rays.

Therefore, an accurate examination by a specialist is necessary.

Typical symptoms when a crack occurs

A cracked tooth causes a sharp, nerve-like pain as the crack opens and closes every time you chew.

The pain tends to worsen, especially when chewing hard foods or drinking cold beverages.

Because the pain is not continuous but occurs intermittently, patients may also have difficulty identifying the exact source.

At Garak Market Station Dental Clinic, we make an accurate diagnosis by performing various tests based on these characteristic symptoms.

Why does a tooth crack?

There are various reasons why a tooth may crack.

✔️ If you often eat hard or chewy foods,

be careful, as this can place excessive pressure on the teeth.

✔️ Severe clenching habits or teeth grinding during sleep can also be a cause.

✔️ A tooth can also crack due to trauma.

Falls, collisions, sports impacts, and other accidents

can suddenly place pressure on the tooth, leading to a crack.

Treatment method

At Garak Market Station Dental Clinic, we perform detailed observation with X-rays to determine the extent of the crack.

A tiny crack in the early stage can be monitored regularly if the symptoms are not severe, to check whether it progresses.

However, if it causes inconvenience in daily life, crown treatment must be performed.

A crown acts like a helmet that covers the entire crown of the tooth and protects it.

Available materials include gold, ceramic, zirconia, and other options,

and the appropriate material can be chosen depending on the situation.

If pain continues even after the crown is placed, additional active treatment through root canal therapy may be needed.

Why does the pain continue?

If the tooth crack is severe, pain may remain even after a crown is placed.

As shown by Garak Market Station Dental Clinic, if the crack reaches the tooth’s inner nerve,

infection or inflammation can easily occur, so in such cases, root canal treatment is needed to eliminate the source of infection and pain.

Sometimes a tiny surface crack is difficult to distinguish even on an X-ray image,

and occasionally, when the tooth is shaped for treatment, it turns out that the crack has actually progressed much deeper inside.

If the tooth crack is severe, the tooth may be badly split internally, which can lead to the need for extraction.

In particular, if the crack has progressed deeply and vertically all the way to the tooth root,

the risk of infection is high, so it cannot be resolved with conservative treatment.

In such cases, replacement treatments such as implants or bridges are needed after extraction.

Therefore, if you feel a sharp or dull pain while eating, it is best to get an accurate examination.

Sometimes, after all treatment is finished, people think the problem will never return,

and at Garak Market Station Dental Clinic, we have also seen many cases of poor maintenance,

but no treatment is permanent.

Even a treated tooth requires ongoing care and caution.

If it is used improperly or excessive pressure is applied, problems can recur in the treated area as well.

In particular, teeth that have undergone root canal treatment lose their blood supply,

so they can no longer receive nutrients, which makes the structure weaker.

Therefore, it is essential to finish treatment by placing a crown,

and we recommend avoiding hard foods and seeking treatment for any teeth-grinding or clenching habits.

Above all, it is important to detect early cracks through regular checkups and respond appropriately.

Even small symptoms should not be ignored; you should get an accurate diagnosis from a specialist.

Please remember that healthy teeth are a lifelong asset,

and we hope you will follow the guidance shared by Garak Market Station Dental Clinic so you can protect your precious teeth!

25.08.15~25.08.25