Dental Conditions
Cracked or broken tooth
Cracks range from cosmetic to genuinely urgent. We offer same-day or next-day treatment, because which category yours falls into is time-sensitive.
Four types of crack
Craze Lines
Superficial cracks in the enamel only. Extremely common, especially in adults, and require no treatment at all beyond reassurance.
Fractured Cusp
A piece of the chewing surface has broken away, usually around an old filling. Typically restored with a crown, and rarely involves the nerve.
Cracked Tooth
A deeper vertical crack running toward the root. Often saveable with root canal therapy and a crown — but only if treated before the crack extends further.
Split Tooth
The crack has separated the tooth into distinct segments. Frequently requires extraction, though sometimes one segment can be retained.
Why a cracked tooth is a race
Cracks propagate. A crack that stops above the gumline today can extend below it in weeks, and the point at which it crosses that line is often the point at which the tooth becomes unsaveable.
The classic symptom is pain on releasing a bite rather than on biting down — a sharp twinge as the crack closes again. If that sounds familiar, do not wait for it to become constant.
Treatment options
Dental Crowns
Holding the remaining structure together and stopping the crack spreading — the mainstay of treatment for fractured cusps and cracked teeth.
Same-Day CEREC Crowns
Designed, milled, and fitted in one visit, so the tooth is protected immediately rather than waiting two weeks in a temporary.
Root Canal Plus Crown
Where the crack has reached the nerve, the pulp is treated first and the tooth then crowned to hold it together.
Concerned about your symptoms?
Call (905) 479-7777 today. Cracked teeth do not improve with time.