Symptomatic, incompletely fractured posterior teeth can be a great source of anxiety for both the dental patient and den- tal operator. For the latter, challenges associated with deriving an accurate diagnosis together with the ef cient and time effective management of cases of cracked tooth syndrome are largely accountable for the aforementioned problem. The aim of this series of two articles is to provide the reader with an in-depth insight into this condition, through the undertaking of a comprehensive literature review of contemporarily available data. The rst article will provide details relating to the background of cracked tooth syndrome including the epidemiology, pathophysiology, aetiology and diagnosis of the syndrome, together with a consideration of factors which may influence the prognostic outcome of teeth affected by incomplete, symptomatic fractures.