Cracked Tooth Syndrome: an essential update

Abstract

Background: The Cracked Tooth Syndrome has increased its incidence worldwide and constitutes a fundamental diagnostic challenge in dental clinical practice. In Cuba it is not included in the current classification of dental trauma, so it is not diagnosed or treated. Objective: to describe the Cracked Tooth Syndrome, as a frequent stomatological entity. Methodology: A bibliographic review was carried out taking into account the scientific literature in Spanish and English, including all original research articles, review articles and case reports, using the Scielo, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Around 63 articles were identified, of which 54 were selected according to the academic criteria of the Cuban Stomatological School, of which 50% were updated. The information was analyzed and integrated. Results: Topographically, the teeth of the posterior sector were the most affected. It mainly affects adults in the age range of 30 to 60 years; while sex is not a determining variable in its incidence. Its essential cause is the incomplete vertical fracture or fissure in the dentin, which are not usually shown on the x-ray. Conclusions: It was concluded that despite the fact that this syndrome is a common and well-documented clinical entity in several countries as one of the traumatic conditions that can evolve into pulp necrosis, in Cuba, there is no protocol that regulates its identification.