Yang SE, et al. - The researchers aimed to analyze the various factors associated with cracked teeth and to assess the pulp status according to periodontal probing depth (PPD). Cracks were commonly noted in molar teeth, that were intact with no restoration. Compared to those with a PPD of 3 mm or less, cracked teeth showing a PPD of 4 mm or more were more likely to show pulp necrosis.

Methods

• The researchers included 182 cracked teeth.
• They analyzed the location and type of the cracked teeth, age and gender of the patients, restoration type, pulp status, PPD, and radiographic findings.

Results

• The most frequently involved teeth were mandibular second molars (25.3%), followed by mandibular first molars (22.5%), maxillary first molars (22.0%), and maxillary second molars (17.6%).
• The patient age was most frequently found to be between 50–59 years.
• Mainly, cracks occurred in nonbonded restorations, such as gold (26.9%), and were usually found in intact teeth (37.9%).
• An initial PPD of less than 3 mm was observed for 103 teeth (56.6%), while 40 (22.0%) had a PPD of 4–6 mm, and 39 (21.4%) had PPD of 7 mm or more.
• In this study, 33 cracked teeth (18.1%) were diagnosed with pulp necrosis, 40 (22.0%) with irreversible pulpitis, and 97 (53.3%) with reversible pulpitis.
• Among cracked teeth with a PPD of 4-6 mm, the incidence of pulp necrosis was 31.8%, and among those with a PPD of 7 mm or more it was 28.6%.