Funkhouser E, Ferracane JL, Hilton TJ, Gordan VV, Gilbert GH, Mungia R, Burton V, Meyerowitz C, Kopycka-Kedzierawski DT. Onset and resolution of pain among treated and untreated posterior teeth with a visible crack: Three-year findings from the national dental practice-based research network.
J Dent 2022;
119:104078. [PMID:
35227834 PMCID:
PMC8988449 DOI:
10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104078]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Cracked teeth may be associated with pain, especially biting pain, and to a lesser degree cold and spontaneous pain. Described are how commonly these pains remain constant, develop, or resolve over time, none of which have been well-described, especially among untreated cracked teeth.
METHODS
Cracked teeth from the Cracked Tooth Registry (CTR) study were followed for 3 years. Assessments of cold, biting, and spontaneous pain and treatments performed were completed at enrollment (Y0) and at each annual recall visit.
RESULTS
209 practitioners enrolled 2,858 patients, each with a visible crack on a posterior tooth; 2601 (91%) patients attended at least one recall visit. Overall, 960 (37%) were treated, primarily with crowns. Among both treated and untreated cracked teeth with biting pain or spontaneous pain at Y0, the vast majority (92-99%) had their pain resolved by the time of a recall visit and 85-93% remained pain-free after initial resolution. The observations for cold pain were similar: 68% (untreated) and 78% (treated) became free of cold pain at some point during follow-up, and 84% of these stayed free of cold pain after initial resolution. Few teeth developed biting or spontaneous pain (4-8%) and 44-67% of these had pain resolution during the follow-up period.
CONCLUSION
In this study, treatment resolved a preponderance of pain associated with a cracked tooth. Pain was also resolved for most untreated cracked teeth, especially biting pain, and to a lesser degree spontaneous and cold pain, although not to the same degree as with the treated cracked teeth.
Collapse