Cracked teeth: a review of etiology, traditional detection methods, and novel diagnostic techniques.

OBJECTIVE: Cracked teeth are a common oral disease that often causes tooth pain. However, its clinical manifestations are subtle and complex, leading to difficulties in early diagnosis, and current detection methods also have several limitations. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes emerging detection techniques, aiming to overcome existing diagnostic challenges and promote the advancement of rapid, precise, and non-invasive diagnostic approaches for cracked teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review is based on a systematic search of relevant data from databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science covering the period from the January 2015 to December 2025, and also incorporates content from authoritative literature such as that of the American Association of Endodontists (AAE). RESULTS: It summarizes common clinical detection methods for cracked teeth and focuses on delineating novel examination techniques and recent advances in this field. CONCLUSION: Current clinical diagnosis primarily relies on visual examination with optical microscopy, supplemented by probing, bite tests, and imaging aids like periapical radiographs (PA) or cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). However, these conventional methods have several limitations, including heavy reliance on clinician experience, susceptibility to interference from metallic restorations, and difficulty in accurately assessing crack depth. With advancements in novel detection technologies, the localization and diagnosis of cracked teeth are becoming more precise. These new techniques not only effectively overcome artifacts caused by metallic restorations but also enable the evaluation of crack depth. Furthermore, they can facilitate automated crack identification and pulpal status assessment. In recent years, the integration of artificial intelligence with diagnostic methods for cracked teeth has been explored, aiming to develop rapid, accurate, and non-invasive diagnostic strategies. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This review systematically summarizes emerging detection technologies, highlighting their features and current limitations. It aims to provide new perspectives for the clinical diagnosis of cracked teeth and contribute to refining the existing clinical diagnostic framework.