Treatment of Cracked Or Broken Teeth: How to Fix and Feel Better

Are your teeth hurt? Do you feel pain when you eat? You might have a cracked tooth. Don’t worry! This big guide will help you know what to do.

What Is a Cracked Tooth?

A cracked tooth is when your tooth gets a break in it. This can be small or big. It might hurt a lot or just a little.

Teeth can crack in many ways:

• Little craze lines on the top
• Chips off the edge
• Deep cracks that go down to your gums
• Split teeth that break into two parts
• Root fractures under your gums

Is This Bad? Do I Need Help Right Now?

Your teeth are telling you something when they hurt! Here are signs you need to see a dentist fast:

• Sharp pain when you chew food
• Hurts when you drink hot or cold things
• Your tooth feels loose
• You can see a crack or chip
• Your mouth is bleeding

A study shows that 23% of cracked teeth need root canal therapy, while 59% need crowns to fix them.[^1]

What to Do Right Now Before Seeing the Dentist

If you can’t see a dentist right away, here are things you can do:

1. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
2. Take pain medicine like ibuprofen
3. Put dental wax on sharp edges
4. Don’t chew on that side of your mouth
5. Avoid very hot, cold, or hard foods

How Dentists Fix Cracked Teeth

The way to fix your tooth depends on how bad the crack is. Here are the main ways dentists help:

For Small Cracks and Chips

For tiny enamel cracks or small chips, your dentist might use:

• Dental bonding – The dentist puts special tooth-colored material on your tooth to fix the shape
• Enamel shaping – The dentist smooths rough spots

These fixes are quick and don’t cost too much!

For Medium Cracks

If the crack goes into the middle layer (dentin) but not too deep, your dentist might use:

• Veneers – Thin shells that go on the front of your tooth to make it look nice and strong
• Dental crowns – A “cap” that covers the whole tooth to protect it

Same-day crowns make 85% of patients happy because they fix the problem fast in one visit![^5]

You can learn more about ceramic inlays and onlays for medium-sized cracks.

For Big Cracks (Into the Pulp)

If the crack is very deep and goes into the soft center of your tooth (pulp), you might need:

• Root canal therapy – The dentist takes out the hurt center part of your tooth and fills it
• Crown – After the root canal, you get a cap to keep your tooth strong

92% of crowns work well to fix teeth with deep cracks when there’s still half of the tooth left.[^2]

For teeth that grind at night, a custom hard night guard can help stop more cracks.

For Very Bad Cracks (Can’t Save the Tooth)

Sometimes a tooth is broken too much to save. Then you might need:

• Tooth pulling (extraction) – Taking out the broken tooth
• Dental implant – A new “root” put in your jaw bone
• Implant crown – A new tooth that looks real on top of the implant

How Much Does It Cost to Fix Cracked Teeth?

The cost to fix your teeth depends on what you need:

Most dental insurance helps pay for some of these costs. They often cover 50-80% of the price for needed fixes.

Will My Tooth Feel Better After Being Fixed?

Most people feel much better after their tooth is fixed! Here’s what to know:

• Pain should go away after the fix
• You might feel a little sore for a few days
• Cold feeling might last a few weeks with deep fixes
• Chewing should feel normal again soon

How Long Will the Fix Last?

How long your fixed tooth lasts depends on:

• What kind of fix you got
• How well you take care of your teeth
• If you grind your teeth at night

Here’s how long each fix usually lasts:

• Bonding: 3-10 years
• Veneers: 7-15 years
• Crowns: 10-15+ years
• Implants: Can last a lifetime

Did You Know? Tooth Crack Facts

• 67% of adults have tiny craze lines (small cracks) that don’t need fixing[^4]
• Cracked tooth syndrome makes teeth hurt only sometimes, making it hard to find which tooth has the problem
• Teeth grinding at night is a big cause of cracks
• Molars (back teeth) get the most cracks because they do the hard chewing

How to Stop More Cracks

Don’t want more cracked teeth? Try these things:

1. Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth
2. Don’t chew ice, hard candy, or bite your nails
3. Don’t use your teeth to open things
4. Get regular dental checkups
5. Wear a custom sports mouth guard if you play sports

Questions People Ask A Lot

When a Crack is Not a Crack

Sometimes what seems like a cracked tooth might be:

• Dental attrition – worn down teeth
• Dentin hypersensitivity – teeth that feel pain from cold
• Cavity – a hole from decay
• Enamel hypoplasia – thin tooth enamel from birth

Your dentist will check to make sure what the real problem is.

Special Cases of Cracked Teeth

Kids with Cracked Teeth

When kids crack their teeth, dentists might use:

• Pediatric zirconia crowns
• Dental bonding
• Special care to not hurt the adult tooth growing underneath

Old People with Cracked Teeth

Older teeth can be more likely to crack. Seniors might need:

• Gentler fixes
• Dentures if many teeth are lost
• Implant-supported bridges

Tools Dentists Use to Find Cracks

Dentists have special tools to see cracks:

• Dental X-rays
• CBCT scans (3D pictures)
• Bite tests with special sticks
• Transillumination (shining light through teeth)
• Intraoral cameras to take close-up pictures

When You Should Get Your Cracked Tooth Fixed

Get your cracked tooth fixed right away if:

• It hurts
• You feel pain when chewing
• The tooth feels loose
• You see blood around the tooth
• There’s a big piece missing

Even if it doesn’t hurt, getting cracks fixed early stops bigger problems later!

Help for Scared Patients

Many people feel scared about dental work. If that’s you, ask about:

• Dental sedation to help you relax
• Pain control options
• Step-by-step explanations of what will happen
• Breaks during treatment if you feel anxious

Real Stories from People with Cracked Teeth

“I cracked my front tooth playing basketball. The dentist used bonding to fix it in one visit. It looks just like my other teeth!” – Mike, 34

“My molar cracked down the middle. I needed a root canal and crown. It took three visits but now I can eat without pain.” – Susan, 45

Talk to Your Dentist

The best thing to do if you think you have a cracked tooth is to see your dentist. They will:

1. Look at your tooth
2. Take X-rays if needed
3. Tell you what’s wrong
4. Explain how to fix it
5. Help with the pain

Don’t wait until the crack gets worse and hurts more!

If you think you might need dental implant prosthetics, talk to your dentist about options.

Remember:

• Cracked teeth don’t heal on their own
• Early help means easier fixes
• Most cracks can be fixed
• Modern dentistry has many ways to help
• Your smile is worth taking care of!