28/09/2026
4 dental questions that sound oddly specific… but actually matter. 🦷
1. “Why does my tooth hurt only when I bite down?”
Pain on biting can sometimes be a clue that something is happening around the tooth’s supporting tissues, and a cracked tooth is one possibility. It deserves an examination rather than simply waiting for it to settle.
2. “Why does it hurt when I RELEASE my bite?”
That tiny detail can actually be useful to your dentist. Pain when you let go after biting can be associated with a crack in the tooth, although it isn’t diagnostic on its own.
3. “Can I have a cracked tooth that doesn’t show on an X-ray?”
Yes. Some cracks, particularly early or very fine cracks, may not be visible on a conventional dental X-ray. Your dentist may need to combine your symptoms, bite tests, magnification and other findings to diagnose it.
4. “If my tooth is cracked, does it automatically mean I need an RCT?”
Not necessarily.
Treatment depends on the depth and location of the crack and whether the tooth’s nerve is affected.
Depending on the situation, treatment may range from simply monitoring the tooth to a filling/bonding, onlay or crown, RCT + crown, or, if the tooth is non-restorable, extraction.
A cracked tooth ≠ automatic RCT. 🦷
