Cracked and incompletely fractured teeth are a real challenge for the dentist. A correct and timely diagnosis is not easy, due to the wide variety of complaints and symptoms. The term 'cracked tooth syndrome' is commonly used to refer to teeth with cracks and fractures. The content of this term, however, may differ from author to author and has evolved over time. In the end, there is no clear description covering the complete genre of cracked, fractured, broken or split teeth. The American Association of Endodontists has classified five specific variations of cracked teeth: craze line; fractured cusp; cracked tooth; split tooth; and vertical root fracture. The aim of this review is to provide information for terminology, classification, diagnosis and management. A decision flow chart with five specific variations of cracked teeth and the treatment options is presented. Paper presented by Roeland De Moor at: VWVT (Flemish Scientific Society for Dentistry), Symposium 'Bijten of slijten' (To bite or to abrade), Antwerp, Belgium, April 18-19, 2013. The 'broken tooth' conundrum: terminology, classification, diagnosis and management. Palabras clave: cracked tooth, craze line, fractured cusp, split tooth, vertical root fracture