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Cracked Tooth: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

A cracked tooth can be hard to find and hard to explain. This guide covers the signs, the causes and the repairs.

Key points

  • Cracks range from harmless craze lines in the enamel to deep splits that reach the root.
  • Sharp pain on biting, especially on release, and sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet food are typical signs.
  • The NHS says a chipped, cracked or broken tooth should be seen by a dentist, even if it does not hurt.1
  • Treatment depends on the type and depth of the crack and may be bonding, a filling, a crown, root canal treatment or removal.
  • A tooth cannot repair a crack by itself, and a crack that is left can spread and let bacteria in.

Teeth are strong, but they are not unbreakable. Cracks range from hairline lines in the enamel that cause no trouble to deep splits that reach the nerve. Because the symptoms can be vague, a cracked tooth is sometimes missed for a while.

Types of crack

  • Craze lines. Fine lines in the enamel, common in adults and usually harmless.
  • A fractured cusp. A piece of the chewing surface breaks off, often around a large filling.
  • A cracked tooth. A crack runs from the biting surface towards the root. It may be partial and cause pain when you bite.
  • A split tooth. The crack has gone through, and the tooth is in two pieces.
  • A vertical root fracture. The crack begins in the root and may show only as gum problems or an abscess.

Causes

  • Biting on something hard, such as ice, bones, nuts or pen caps.
  • A blow to the mouth. The international trauma guideline says crown fractures and luxations are the most common of all dental injuries to adult teeth.3
  • Large fillings that weaken the tooth.
  • Grinding or clenching.
  • Sudden temperature changes, such as hot food followed by cold drink.
  • Age, because teeth become more brittle over time.
  • A tooth that has had root canal treatment, which can be more brittle.

Symptoms

  • Sharp pain when you bite, especially when you release the bite.
  • Sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet things.
  • Pain that comes and goes, and is hard to pin to one tooth.
  • A rough edge that catches your tongue.
  • Swelling of the gum near the tooth.

The NHS lists a cracked or damaged tooth, decay and a loose or broken filling among the common causes of toothache.6

When to see a dentist

A tooth is chipped, cracked or broken, even if it does not hurt.1 The NHS describes a chipped, cracked or broken tooth as non-urgent, though you should still see a dentist.1 See a dentist soon if:

  • a piece has broken off, so that the dentist may be able to glue it back;1
  • a tooth is badly broken and the nerve may be showing;1
  • the pain is severe or constant;
  • there is swelling.

If a piece of tooth has broken off, keep it in milk or saliva and take it to the dentist, who may be able to glue it back on.1 A tooth that has been knocked out is a different matter: an adult tooth needs a dentist as soon as possible.2

How a crack is found

The dentist asks about your pain, looks at the tooth, tests how the tooth responds and checks whether it is loose or out of position.3 They may ask you to bite on a small tool, use a bright light and dye to see the crack and take X-rays, although cracks often do not show on X-rays.

Treatment

The right treatment depends on the type and depth of the crack. The dentist may glue the fragment back on, place a filling or a crown, which is a cap that covers the broken tooth, or perform root canal treatment if the nerve is exposed.1

  • Smoothing or bonding for a small chip. See our page on dental bonding.
  • A filling for a small break.
  • A crown to hold a cracked tooth together and protect it. See dental crowns.
  • Root canal treatment if the nerve is infected or exposed.1 The NHS lists tooth removal as the alternative.15
  • Extraction if the tooth is split or the root is fractured.

For a cracked tooth that has had root canal treatment, crowns after the root canal improved how long the tooth lasted in a review.4 That review included six observational studies with a moderate risk of bias, and survival was at least 75.8 percent, and in some studies every tooth survived.4

If the tooth is lost

If a tooth is lost, the NHS lists a temporary denture, a bridge or an implant as the later options.2 Our guide to root canal, extraction or implant explains how that decision is made.

What happens if a crack is left

Cracks can spread. Bacteria can enter and infect the pulp, which leads to pain and an abscess. A repaired tooth can chip again, and a cracked tooth can split further, so follow-up matters.34 Early treatment keeps more of the tooth.

Protecting your teeth

  • Do not chew ice, hard sweets, pen caps or bones.
  • Do not use your teeth as tools to open packages.
  • Wear a mouthguard for contact sports.
  • If you grind your teeth, ask about a night guard.
  • Have large or old fillings checked at your regular visits.
  • Treat cavities early.

Cracked teeth in children

Children chip and break teeth in falls and collisions. The NHS advises that if your child has chipped or broken a tooth, you should see a dentist.1 Never put a baby tooth back in after it is knocked out, because it can damage the adult tooth growing underneath.2 See our page on dental emergency.

First aid for a cracked or broken tooth

If you chip, crack or break a tooth, a few steps help until you can see a dentist.

  1. Rinse your mouth gently with warm water and, if there is bleeding, press on the area with clean gauze.
  2. Keep any piece that has broken off in milk or saliva and take it with you, because the dentist may be able to glue it back.1
  3. Take a painkiller as the label directs if the tooth hurts.6
  4. If there is a sharp edge, dental wax or a temporary filling material from a pharmacy can cover it until you are seen.
  5. Avoid chewing on that side, and avoid very hot, cold or sweet food.
  6. Book a dentist the same day if you can, and sooner if there is severe pain or swelling.

If the tooth has been knocked out, see the NHS advice on a knocked-out tooth and go to a dentist or hospital urgently.2

Why a crack can be hard to find

Cracks are often too fine to see, and they may not show on an X-ray at first. A dentist builds up the picture from several clues: your description of the pain, a close look with magnification, a test where you bite on a small tool and release, a dye that stains the crack and a light shone through the tooth. The tooth may also be checked for gum swelling or deep pockets, which can suggest a root fracture.

Because of this, the first visit sometimes ends with a plan to protect the tooth and watch it, such as a filling or a crown, instead of a final answer. Tell the dentist when the pain happens, since pain on release of the bite is a typical clue.

Looking after a cracked tooth until treatment

  • Chew on the other side, and avoid hard, sticky and chewy food.
  • Keep brushing the area gently, and keep it clean.
  • Avoid very hot and cold drinks if they trigger pain.
  • Do not test the tooth by biting on it.
  • Take painkillers as directed, and do not place any tablets against the gum.
  • Contact the dentist at once if you have swelling, a fever, a bad taste or pus, because the tooth may be infected.5

Myths and facts

Myth: if it does not hurt, a crack is not important. Some cracks cause no pain at first but can worsen.

Myth: a cracked tooth will heal. Unlike bone, a tooth cannot repair a crack by itself.

Fact: early treatment helps. A crown placed soon can prevent a crack from spreading.

Frequently asked questions

Can a cracked tooth be saved?

Often, depending on how deep the crack goes. A crown or root canal treatment may be needed.1

Why does it hurt only when I release the bite?

This is a typical sign of a cracked tooth. The crack opens and closes as you bite and release.

Is a cracked tooth an emergency?

Usually not, but see a dentist promptly. Severe pain, swelling or a fever needs urgent attention.16

Can I eat on a cracked tooth?

Avoid chewing on it until you have been seen.

Can a cracked tooth heal on its own?

No. A tooth cannot repair a crack by itself, so a cracked tooth needs a dentist to assess it, protect it and plan treatment.

What if the cracked tooth does not hurt?

It should still be seen. The NHS advises seeing a dentist for a chipped, cracked or broken tooth even if it does not hurt, because cracks can spread.1

About the author

Portrait of Dr Anupam Sinha

Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics. BDS (2002), KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum. MDS in Orthodontics (2006), SDM College of Dental Sciences, Dharwad. His thesis work won a national research award in 2005, and he holds a certification in aesthetic dentistry. He sees patients at Orion Dental Clinic in Greater Kailash 1, South Delhi. Read the full profile of Dr Anupam Sinha.

Sources

  1. NHS website. Chipped, broken or cracked tooth (patient information). Page review date 9 January 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chipped-broken-or-cracked-tooth/
  2. NHS website. Knocked-out tooth (patient information). Page review date 6 February 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/knocked-out-tooth/
  3. Bourguignon C, Cohenca N, Lauridsen E, Flores MT, O'Connell AC, Day PF, et al. International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries: 1. Fractures and luxations. Dental Traumatology, 2020;36(4):314-330. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32475015/
  4. Mathew VB, Shamsuddin S, Langaliya A, Rathod PT, Gupta B, Ronsivalle V. Survivability of endodontically treated cracked tooth: a systematic review. Technology and Health Care, 2024;32(4):2023-2037. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38517822/
  5. NHS website. Root canal treatment (patient information). Page review date 3 October 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/root-canal-treatment/
  6. NHS website. Toothache (patient information). Page review date 1 July 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/toothache/

Medically reviewed by Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics, on . General information for patients from Orion Dental Clinic, last updated 23 October 2026. It is not advice for one person, so ask a dentist what suits you. To report an error, contact us.