OBJECTIVETo study the effective method of early treatment on cracked tooth.

METHODSSixty cracked teeth were randomly divided into Group A and Group B. Teeth of Group A were treated by means of occlusal adjustment and filling. Teeth of Group B were treated by employing porcelain complete veneer crown. Curative effect was evaluated every half a year and last 2 years.

RESULTSThe achievement ratio of Group A and Group B was 53.33% and 83.33%. There was significant difference between them (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONPorcelain complete veneer crown is a better method to treat cracked tooth. It can decrease the occurrence of pulpitis and fracture.

Cracked Tooth Syndrome ; Crowns ; Humans

PURPOSE: The aims of the present study were to compare the image quality and visibility of tooth cracks between conventional methods and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and to develop an automatic detection technique for tooth cracks by SS-OCT imaging. METHODS: We evaluated SS-OCT with a near-infrared wavelength centered at 1,310 nm over a spectral bandwidth of 100 nm at a rate of 50 kHz as a new diagnostic tool for the detection of tooth cracks. The reliability of the SS-OCT images was verified by comparing the crack lines with those detected using conventional methods. After performing preprocessing of the obtained SS-OCT images to emphasize cracks, an algorithm was developed and verified to detect tooth cracks automatically. RESULTS: The detection capability of SS-OCT was superior or comparable to that of trans-illumination, which did not discriminate among the cracks according to depth. Other conventional methods for the detection of tooth cracks did not sense initial cracks with a width of less than 100 μm. However, SS-OCT detected cracks of all sizes, ranging from craze lines to split teeth, and the crack lines were automatically detected in images using the Hough transform. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to distinguish structural cracks, craze lines, and split lines in tooth cracks using SS-OCT images, and to automatically detect the position of various cracks in the OCT images. Therefore, the detection capability of SS-OCT images provides a useful diagnostic tool for cracked tooth syndrome.
Cracked Tooth Syndrome ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Tomography, Optical Coherence* ; Tooth Fractures ; Tooth*