Cracked teeth

Signs of a cracked tooth

• a sharp pain when you bite, or when you release the bite
• sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet that comes and goes
• pain that is hard to pin to one tooth

Types of cracks

Craze lines. Tiny lines in the outer enamel. Common in adults and usually harmless.

Fractured cusp. A pointed part of the chewing surface breaks. It rarely affects the pulp and is usually fixed with a crown.

Cracked tooth. A crack runs from the chewing surface down toward the root. Found early, the tooth can usually be saved, often with a root canal and a crown.

Split tooth. The crack has separated the tooth into parts. Sometimes part of the tooth can be saved.

Vertical root fracture. A crack that starts in the root. These are hard to see and may need surgery on that root or an extraction.

What to do

Call either office if you notice these signs. The sooner a crack is found, the more options you have. Until you are seen, chew on the other side and avoid very hard foods.