Cracked or broken tooth

Signs of a cracked tooth

• A sharp pain when you bite, or the moment you release
• Sensitivity to cold or sweet that comes and goes
• Pain you cannot pin to one tooth
• A piece of the tooth has broken off

Cracks are often too fine to see on an X-ray. Under the operating microscope, Dr. Vinod can see how far a crack runs, which decides how the tooth is treated.

How a cracked tooth is treated

• A crack in the outer tooth only is usually protected with a crown.
• A crack that reaches the nerve usually needs a root canal, then a crown.
• A crack that splits the root often means the tooth cannot be saved. Dr. Vinod will tell you honestly if this is the case.

Until you are seen

Chew on the other side and avoid very hard or sticky food. A crack can spread, so do not wait for the pain to go away on its own.