I Have a Cracked Tooth — Can It Be Saved? | Merchant's Walk Dental East Cobb

• Pain when biting or chewing, especially when you release the bite
• Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the temperature is gone
• Intermittent sharp pain that is hard to pinpoint
• Discomfort that comes and goes — sometimes no pain at all

Cracked teeth are notoriously difficult to diagnose because the pain is often inconsistent. An exam, X-rays, and sometimes a bite test are needed to locate and assess the crack.

• Craze lines — tiny surface cracks in the enamel; usually cosmetic only, no treatment needed
• Fractured cusp — a piece of the chewing surface breaks off; often treated with a crown
• Cracked tooth — a crack running from the chewing surface toward the root; a crown can usually save it
• Split tooth — the tooth has separated into two segments; may require extraction
• Vertical root fracture — a crack in the root; often requires extraction

In many cases, yes. A dental crown is the most common treatment — it holds the tooth together and prevents the crack from spreading. If the crack has reached the nerve, a root canal may be needed before placing the crown.

If the crack extends below the gumline or the tooth has split, extraction may be the only option. The sooner a cracked tooth is treated, the better the chance of saving it.

Merchant's Walk Dental provides same-day emergency care for cracked teeth throughout East Cobb, Marietta, Roswell, Kennesaw, Smyrna, Woodstock, and Alpharetta. Call (770) 691-5051 or schedule online.