SP-38 There Are Cracks … and There Are Cracks – but What Is a Crack and What Do I Do About a Crack?
CE Hours: 1.5
Description: “Cracked teeth” is one of the most widely debated, disputed and misunderstood topics in dentistry. The confusion and misunderstandings stem largely from early work on cracks and the lack of a good definition of a crack. Many dentists are confused about cracks and fractures, and they use these terms interchangeably even though they represent different problems. The confusion and misunderstanding also stem from traditional approaches to dealing with cracks in teeth which has largely been a mechanical approach. Whilst cracks are a weakness in the tooth structure, they are also a pathway for bacteria to enter the tooth and cause pulp disease. Symptoms associated with cracks in teeth come from the pulp and therefore it is essential to diagnose the pulp status and then manage the bacterial aspect of cracks rather than just dealing with them as a mechanical problem. This lecture will define cracks, explore the effects of cracks on teeth and provide guidelines for the diagnosis and management of teeth with cracks – especially teeth with reversible pulpitis, which can be managed conservatively.
Learning Objectives:
- Define cracks and fractures and differentiate between them.
- Explain that cracks are an etiology of various diseases, and not a disease or a syndrome.
- Outline the consequences of cracks in teeth.
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LockedPaul V. Abbott, B.D.Sc., M.D.S., FRACDS(Endo)
Paul Abbott is Emeritus Professor of Dentistry at The University of Western Australia. He is a Specialist Endodontist with over 46 years of clinical practice experience. Prior to taking a full-time University position in 2002, he spent 17 years in private specialist endodontic practice and he also held part-time academic positions at The University of Western Australia and the University of Melbourne. He was Dean and Head of the School of Dentistry at The University of Western Australia and Director of the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia from 2003-2009. He has presented over 1800 lectures and courses in 55 countries. He has over 440 publications with 278 articles in refereed journals, 25 textbook chapters and 51 Newsletter articles. From 2015-2022, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Dental Traumatology. Prof. Abbott's main research and clinical interests revolve around dental traumatology, tooth resorption, and the diagnosis and management of pulp, root canal and peri-radicular conditions, with particular emphasis on pain control and disinfection of the root canal system. He has won numerous awards for his teaching and service to the dental profession, including the Jens O. Andreasen Award for Lifetime Achievement in Dental Traumatology from the International Association of Dental Traumatology (2024) and the Louis I. Grossman Award (2025) from the American Association of Endodontists for cumulative publications of significant research studies that have made an extraordinary contribution to endodontology. Prof. Abbott was also appointed by the Governor-General of Australia as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015. In 2024, he was appointed as Chair of an IADT/DTG Committee to develop a new comprehensive classification of Tooth Resorption.
Disclosure(s): OzDent Dental Products Pty Ltd: Honorarium (Ongoing), Occasional Consultancy work (Ongoing), Other Research Support (includes receipt of drugs, supplies, equipment or other in-kind support) (Ongoing), Speaker/Honoraria (includes speakers bureau, symposia, and expert witness) (Ongoing)