Cracked teeth and injuries
A cracked tooth can hurt when you bite, or when it meets heat or cold, and the crack can be hard to see. We examine it under the microscope, test it and take images to find out how deep it goes.
An injury to a tooth, a blow, a fall or a broken tooth, can harm the pulp inside even if the tooth looks fine. If a tooth has been knocked out or broken, call us right away; see the emergency page for what to do first.
How we look
Not every crack can be treated, and we tell you honestly what we find.
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Step 1: Your story
We ask when it started, what sets it off, and whether you had a blow to the face.
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Step 2: Close examination
We test the tooth, look at it under magnification and check the gum around it.
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Step 3: Images
We take a small X-ray and, if needed, a 3D scan to see more of the root and the bone.
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Step 4: Options
We explain what we see, whether a root canal could help, and what else you could do, with the estimate beside each.
Comfort, choices and cost
Comfort
We numb the area before any treatment, and we stop whenever you ask. An examination of a sensitive tooth can be uncomfortable; tell us and we adjust.
Other choices, and waiting
A crack that reaches the root may mean the tooth cannot be kept, and we say so when we see it. Other choices include protecting the tooth with a crown from your dentist, watching it, or removing it. Waiting can let a crack deepen or an infection start.
Risks and after-care
A root canal on a cracked tooth does not always solve the pain, because the crack can stay. A crack can also show itself only after treatment starts. Your endodontist explains these risks before you decide.
How it is billed
You get a written estimate before treatment. Our fees page explains insurance, receipts and paying yourself.
How fees work
Questions about cracked teeth and injuries
Why can't an X-ray show a crack?
A fine crack often does not show on a flat image. We use magnification, tests and sometimes a 3D scan.
What do I do if a tooth is knocked out?
Pick it up by the crown, not the root, and call us right away. The emergency page has the steps.
Can a cracked tooth be saved?
Sometimes. It depends on how deep the crack goes. We tell you what we see.
Provided by endodontists
Dr. Emi Yamada and Dr. Angela Britton, endodontists, licensed in Illinois. Their practice is limited to endodontics; your own dentist keeps your routine care.