Apart from visible symptoms, like fracture lines, missing pieces or splits – a cracked tooth can cause dental pain and sensitivity. Cracks can cause irritation to the gums, and can lead to infection, causing intense tooth pain, swelling and a high temperature.[i]
Swift treatment will improve the likelihood of treatment success to restore the function and appearance of a cracked tooth. Although many fractures are not serious enough to warrant any treatment, they can require urgent care and it is important to visit your dentist as soon as you can, to avoid complications.
Treatment options
Your dentist will discuss options for treatment with you, and will make recommendations based on your individual clinical need as well as your preferences.
If the crack has caused infection in your tooth, or has occurred due to issues with bruxism, or with an infection in your gums, these will need to be addressed before your dentist can proceed with any restorative treatment.
Some common treatments are:
Fillings
The most common and inexpensive type of restoration to treat cavities caused by decay or damage, is amalgam. It is composed of a mixture of metals including mercury, silver, tin and copper.
Fillings made from white/tooth coloured composite are also very popular, particularly to repair chips in teeth that are visible when you smile.
Composite bonding
Composite bonding can repair small chips as well as close gaps in teeth. It can be applied directly and, as it can be shaped and polished to blend in with your natural teeth, it is often used to treat imperfections in the front teeth.
Veneers
A veneer is a thin shell, made of porcelain or composite material, made to fit over the front surface of a prepared tooth. Veneers are a well-established and effective treatment for many minor imperfections, like discolouration, cracks, chips, misaligned teeth or gaps.
Crowns
A crown is a type of cap that completely covers a real tooth, and works well to restore a broken tooth. It's usually made from metal, porcelain fused to metal, or ceramic and is bonded to your tooth. To fit a crown, the old tooth will need to be reduced in size so the crown will fit over it.
It can take some time for the lab to prepare a new crown, so you probably will not have the final crown fitted on the same day. Crowns are made to your exact specifications, and can be designed to look and work exactly like your natural teeth.
Root canal treatment
If the fracture is serious enough, root canal treatment may be needed to save the tooth. This process, known as endodontics, aims to remove any infection from the interior of the tooth, from the crown down to the base of the root.
Once the tooth is thoroughly treated, the root canal is then filled with a safe substance that is placed to prevent further infection, and the tooth is then sealed with a filling or crown.
Extraction
If the damage is too great, your dentist may not be able to save the tooth, in which case they will discuss extraction with you, and other possible restorative methods, such as bridges, dentures or implants.
Prevention
While mouthguards or splints can help prevent sporting injuries and damage due to bruxism, the best way to avoid a cracked tooth is to ensure teeth are resilient and strong, and that gums are healthy. It is very important to brush your teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste, and to clean between your teeth with floss or an interdental brush.
Please reach out to one of our dentists if you’re suffering from a cracked tooth, or if you have any concerns.
Take a look at our practice locator to find your local practice.
[1] Patnana AK, Kanchan T. Tooth Fracture. StatPearls (internet) May 2023. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551650/ Accessed August 2024
[1] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dental-abscess/
