Everybody loves going to the dentist, not even Disney Land has such excitement! ... - Psych! The dentist is often more akin to a trip down into the fire and brimstone in the putrid pits of Hell. If you actually enjoy going to the dentist, I think you might actually be Satan.

Two weeks ago, I had to make the lovely journey out to the devilish lands of dentistry in order to have several cavities filled.

No big deal right? Cavities are by far the most common issue with people's teeth. The procedure is often very simple for both the patient and the doctor. The worst part of cavities is that damned horse gauge needle used to introduce novocain into the gum-line. So I went in and everything went fairly smooth. The doctor was confident in his work and when he completed the procedure he sent me home with a smile for the regency.

The following day a newly developed pain began to surface in my jaw.

At first I thought little of it as the previous day's work probably caused some irritation that would soon subside. However, this pain did not disappear- in fact, it has done quite the opposite. As the days passed this minor pain exponentially grew into a monster hiding in the corner of my mouth. So I called and set up an emergency visit with the dentist.

The dentist began the examination on the following Thursday morning a week after the fillings with an X-Ray exam of my teeth. The X-Ray came out clean and showed nothing out of the ordinary. The dentist from here then tested my bite on each tooth explaining there are two distinct pains he is looking for - pain when biting down, and pain when releasing the bite. This is where things really went awry.

The dentist found two cracked teeth.

He looks at me with all the kindness that a demon can muster and says, "It appears that you are experiencing what is known as cracked tooth syndrome from a hairline fracture." He goes on to explain what is happening and what they will do to fix it (both of which I will explain in detail at the end). When he is finished explaining the future procedure he then mentions that they're going to have to do some more tests to see just how much the nerve is affected. I knew what he was really saying though....

"Are you ready for some more intense pain, my newest toy?"

And that is when I heard it... Pshhhh Pshhhhh Pshhhh

I turned around to see the dentist applying liquid nitrogen to a cotton ball and I lost it. This mad scientist wants to freeze my head off! I already told him that cold sends a shock through my whole body starting from those two teeth and on, and now here he is with a subzero cotton ball. Fuck. So he goes through and tests the normal teeth first and finally gets to the cracked teeth. Have you ever had a brain freeze on one tooth? The pain from this is indescribable. My whole face felt as though lightning struck my soul. He tells me that things are not too terrible just yet and to be careful with crunchy foods, and because I am going through the VA for all of this my next appointment to fix these cracked teeth isn't until March 7th. Ugh... The next month or so shall be an interesting one..

What is cracked tooth syndrome?

According to the Canadian Dental Association the term cracked tooth syndrome (CTS) refers to an incomplete fracture of a vital posterior tooth that involves the dentine and occasionally extends into the pulp. This results in pain when chewing, often most intense when releasing, and pain with temperature extremes.

Pressure applied to the crown of a cracked tooth leads to separation of the tooth components along the line of the crack. Such separation in dentine results in the movement of fluid in the dentinal tubules, stimulating odontoblasts in the pulp as well as the stretching and rupturing odontoblastic processes lying in the tubules, thus stimulating pulpal nociceptors. Ingress of saliva along the crack line may further increase the sensitivity of dentine. Direct stimulation of pulpal tissues occurs if the crack extends into the pulp.
The Canadian Dental Association

This means that when a cracked tooth is used for chewing, the tooth comes apart and the nerves extend into the space and the nociceptors, the pain receptors, are then activated causing pain. When releasing the nerves become pinched also stimulating the nociceptors.

How is a cracked tooth fixed?

According to the Canadian Dental Association, the tooth needs to be restored with protection and permanent stabilization in mind. This is achieved most often by using a crown.

What is a crown?

A crown can help strengthen a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining to hold the filling. Crowns can also be used to attach bridges, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that’s already broken. A crown is a good way to cover teeth that are discolored or badly shaped. It’s also used to cover a dental implant.
The American Dental Association

A crown is made by taking an impression of the target tooth and the teeth surrounding it. This impression is sent off to a lab and custom made into a fitting that will cover the target tooth. The target tooth is filed down and shaped so that the crown will fit properly, and the crown is applied using dental adhesive.

In conclusion, I hate the dentist and tooth pain is hellacious; however, I am covered by the VA so I do not have to pay for this expensive procedure. If I had regular insurance I would surely be looking at having the teeth completely removed instead of being fixed. I am extremely grateful that I am getting this taken care of and getting to keep my teeth.

Sources

McConnell, Robert, and Christopher Lynch. “The Cracked Tooth Syndrome.” The Canadian Dental Association, Sept. 2002, pp. 470–475., www.cda-adc.ca/jcda/vol-68/issue-8/470.pdf.

“Crowns.” Mouth Healthy TM, The American Dental Association, www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/c/Crowns.

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Have you ever had liquid nitrogen applied to your teeth? - Cracked Tooth Syndrome and Crowns