Odontecrexis (exploding tooth) can occur when trapped air in a tooth rapidly expands, causing the tooth to fracture.
Clinical features:
(1) There is spontaneous fracture of the tooth or fracture after minimal contact (absence of significant external trauma).
(2) There is the presence of trapped air within the affected tooth, which may have been restored.
(3) The patient has been exposed to a sudden change in pressure, causing a sudden increase in pressure within the tooth. The change is usually a decompression, going from a high pressure to low pressure.
(4) The fracture is often preceded by barodontalgia.
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