Dental Health

Does a Cracked Tooth Have to Be Fixed?

November 9, 2021

There are different types of cracks that can occur to the tooth, and for different reasons. A tooth can be cracked from an injury, chewing on foods or objects you’re not supposed to, and teeth grinding.

A cracked tooth may be obvious with a visible crack or cracks in the teeth, or you may not know you have a crack until you experience symptoms such as pain and tooth sensitivity. But does a cracked tooth have to be fixed to get better?

Cracks Can Worsen Over Time

Cracked teeth aren’t always a dental emergency, but it’s a good idea to see your dentist for the injured tooth as soon as you can [1]. If your tooth has been cracked, even if it isn’t causing pain now, it can worsen over time.

The crack can extend down the side of your tooth, which can compromise your tooth structure, allowing bacteria to enter the center of your tooth where your nerve tissue is, potentially causing an infection.

When a crack in your tooth extends vertically, the tooth will require root canal therapy or even an extraction, which is why getting an assessment sooner rather than rather can help save your tooth!

Minor Cracks Require Minimal Treatment

Not every cracked tooth will need treatment to be fixed. For example, you may have superficial cracks in your teeth called craze lines, which are generally not a cause for concern and don’t need to be treated.

However, if you have a minor crack, it may still need treatment to prevent it from turning into a larger crack over time. Since teeth are constantly receiving pressure from biting and chewing, cracks can get worse and require more extensive treatment to repair.

When you catch a cracked tooth early, you may only need minimal treatment, such as dental bonding—which is not too dissimilar from a filling—to fix, saving you discomfort and money at the dentist [2].

Always Seek Your Dentist’s Advice

It’s impossible to tell if a cracked tooth needs professional treatment without seeking your dentist’s advice. Many times, a crack won’t be visible, but will instead cause symptoms such as pain when biting down, tooth sensitivity, or even a toothache.

Having your dentist evaluate a potential cracked tooth can prevent the need for a root canal, or even a tooth infection and extraction from ignoring a cracked tooth [3]. Your dentist can let you know if there is a fracture in the tooth, if it needs treatment, and what you can expect throughout the process.

Do You Have a Cracked Tooth?

So does a cracked tooth need treatment? The answer is: it depends. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a cracked tooth, your dentist is your best resource for determining if the crack needs treatment. If you have a cracked tooth, don’t wait to seek help—it could save your tooth!