What Your Dentist Will Do for a Cracked Tooth: My Personal Experience, Diagnosis, Treatment Options, and What to Expect

Table of Contents

• Dental Bonding
• Dental Crown
• Inlays and Onlays
• Root Canal Therapy
• Tooth Pulling

Introduction: How I Found Out I Had a Cracked Tooth

If you’re anything like me, you never think about teeth unless they start hurting. For me, it started with a sharp pain while eating popcorn. I thought maybe I bit down on a hard kernel. But the weird pain kept coming back every time I chewed, so I knew something was wrong.

Years ago, I ignored a toothache and it ended badly, so I didn’t want to make the same mistake. When the pain kept zapping me, I went online looking up “What will a dentist do for a cracked tooth?” I hope my story helps you see what happens, what your options are, and how to stop things from getting worse.

Noticing the Signs: When I Knew I Had to See My Dentist

I remember sitting at my table, poking my tooth with my tongue. It hurt when I chewed bread or steak. Sometimes drinking cold water made it sting. Some days it was a dull pain, other days, nothing at all. It’s hard to explain, but if you’ve had it, you’ll know.

Signs I Noticed:

• Quick, sharp pain when biting
• Tooth hurt when I had cold drinks
• Odd aches that came and went
• Nothing looked cracked in the mirror

I didn’t know if it was a crack, a cavity, or maybe just sensitive gums. But chewing made the pain worse, which is often a sign something in there is broken. I remembered my dentist once said, cracked teeth don’t heal by themselves. If you get to the dentist fast, you have a better shot at saving the tooth.

Why It’s Good to Go In Early:

The longer you wait, the worse it can get. A small crack can turn into needing a crown, a root canal, or even losing your tooth.

My First Dental Checkup: What Happened

When I finally made an appointment, I was worried my dentist wouldn’t find anything. Teeth can look fine outside but be hurting deep down. But my dentist was careful and checked everything.

My Dental Visit:

• Looked at my tooth: The dentist shined a bright light and used a little mirror to see all around the tooth.
• Asked about my pain: He asked when it started, when it hurt the most, and if it kept me awake.
• Tapped and pressed around: He gently tapped my tooth with a tool and pressed my gums to see if they hurt.
• Had me bite down: I bit on a small stick. When I let go, I felt a sharp pain, which is a big hint the tooth is cracked in a certain way.

These simple steps helped the dentist figure things out fast.

How My Dentist Figured Out I Had a Cracked Tooth

Cracks can hide, especially if they go up and down or under the gum. My dentist took it step by step:

1. Dental X-rays:

He took X-rays, but said small cracks usually don’t show up unless they’re really wide or go down to the root. Mine didn’t show up, which happens a lot. X-rays only spot about 20-30% of cracks.

2. Bite Test:

I bit down on a “Tooth Slooth.” Letting go made me feel a big zap of pain, which helped him find the cracked spot better than any picture.

3. Shining a Light:

He used a little light to shine through my tooth. Cracks block the light, so you can see even small ones this way.

4. Dye Test:

The dentist put a special dye on my tooth. It slipped into any small cracks and made them show up better, like using a marker.

5. Gum Check:

He checked my gums around the tooth to see if the crack went too deep.

6. Tiny Camera:

He used a small camera to take detailed pictures so we could both see where it hurt.

What I Learned:

Finding a cracked tooth is about asking questions and looking closely. Sometimes, you need to do more than one test to be sure.

Types of Cracked Teeth (What I Learned)

After the checks, my dentist sat me down to explain the types of cracks. I didn’t know some lines mean nothing, while others can break your tooth in half!

Here’s what I learned:

• Craze Lines: Small, harmless lines in the outside layer. They’re just like little wrinkles—don’t worry about them.
• Fractured Cusp: When a chunk of the biting surface breaks off, usually around a filling. Doesn’t hurt the nerve much but can make your tooth feel weird.
• Cracked Tooth: The crack runs from the top of the tooth toward the root, sometimes into the middle or even the nerve. This was my problem.
• Split Tooth: The crack goes all the way through, dividing the tooth in two pieces. You can’t keep the tooth in one piece at this point.
• Vertical Root Crack: The crack starts down in the root and moves up. This is the worst kind—you almost always lose the tooth.

My crack was in the “cracked tooth” group, which meant I had choices if I acted quickly before it split or hurt the nerve.

Treatment Choices: How My Dentist Fixed My Cracked Tooth

Once the dentist knew what kind of crack it was, he talked through the ways to fix it—from easy fixes like bonding to pulling the whole tooth if things were really bad. Here’s what I learned:

Dental Bonding

When They Use It:

If the crack is just in the outside part, bonding can fix it. A friend had her front tooth patched this way and it still looks good.

What Happens:

The dentist roughens up the tooth, puts on a tooth-colored glue, shapes it, then hardens it with a blue light.

Good and Bad:

It’s quick and easy for small cracks. But it’s not as strong as a crown and usually lasts 5-10 years.

My Experience:

My crack was too deep for bonding, but my friend is happy with her bonded tooth.

Dental Crown

When They Use It:

Crowns are used for bigger cracks or when a chunk breaks off. If it doesn’t reach the nerve or root, the crown covers and protects the tooth.

What Happens:

The dentist shapes the tooth, takes a mold, then gives you a temporary crown while a dental ceramics lab or zirconia lab makes the real thing. The real crown goes on later.

Good and Bad:

Crowns are strong and last a long time. The downside? It takes two visits (sometimes more) and costs more.

My Experience:

I got a porcelain crown. The shots were a little uncomfortable, but after that, things went fine and now I barely notice it.

Inlays and Onlays

When They Use It:

These cover just part of the tooth and are used if the crack is bigger than a filling but smaller than what needs a full crown.

What Happens:

The dentist cleans out the break, takes a mold, and has a digital dental lab make a perfect-fit piece.

Good and Bad:

They keep more of your real tooth compared to crowns but don’t cover everything.

My Experience:

I didn’t need one, but a few of my friends did and like them a lot. Digital molds really help make the fit just right.

Root Canal Therapy

When They Use It:

If the crack goes deep, or the nerve hurts or is infected, you’ll need a root canal. Pain when chewing, or sensitivity to hot/cold, usually means it’s time.

What Happens:

They numb your mouth, take out the bad nerve, clean and fill inside the tooth, and then cover it with a crown.

Good and Bad:

It lets you keep your tooth and stops the pain, but takes more time and costs more.

My Experience:

I avoided a root canal this time, but had one a few years ago. It took a while, but didn’t hurt. The tooth felt better right after.

Tooth Pulling

When They Use It:

If the crack has broken your tooth all the way to the root or you have a root split, sometimes the dentist has to pull it.

What Happens:

The dentist removes the tooth, sometimes with simple tools, sometimes with surgery. Later, you can fill the gap with an implant, bridge, or denture—sometimes using a removable denture lab or an implant lab.

Good and Bad:

You lose the tooth, but you lose the pain too. You usually need something put in its place to keep your bite right.

My Experience:

My main tooth was saved, but I lost a wisdom tooth in college to a bad crack. It’s easier (and cheaper) to take care of teeth than replace them later!

What Happens During and After Treatment

Walking into the dentist, I felt worried. Looking back, treatment was easier than I thought. Here’s what happened, start to finish.

1. Getting Numb

For anything bigger than a simple patch, your dentist will numb the area. I just felt tingly and numb during my crown work.

If you’re scared, some offices offer laughing gas or calming medicine. Ask if you’re nervous about dental work.

2. Pain and Soreness

When the numbing faded, I felt a little sore in my gums. A bit of ibuprofen was all I needed.

3. Temporary Parts

While waiting on my real crown, I wore a plastic temp for about ten days. It felt a little weird but worked fine. I just avoided chewy things.

4. How to Care for Your Tooth

My main tip: don’t bite hard stuff (like ice or nuts) on your fixed tooth—even after the crown goes on. Keep brushing gentle and flossing every day.

5. Follow Up Visits

My dentist saw me two weeks after my final crown to check my bite and make sure everything fit right.

How Much It Costs to Fix a Cracked Tooth: What I Spent

Dentist work isn’t cheap, but waiting too long costs more. Here’s what I learned about cost.

What Affects the Price:

• What needs to be fixed (bonding is cheapest, crowns/root canals cost more)
• Where you live (big cities cost more)
• Dentist’s experience
• Stuff used (porcelain, metal, etc.)
• Your insurance and what it covers

Rough Prices:

• Bonding: $100 – $600
• Inlay/Onlay: $650 – $1,200
• Crown: $800 – $2,500 (mine was $1,150!)
• Root canal: $700 – $2,000 (plus a crown)
• Pulling a tooth: $75 – $600

Remember, you might have to pay for checkups, X-rays, or temp crowns too. Insurance sometimes pays 40-80% for crowns, less for basic fixes.

Stopping Cracked Teeth: What I Do Different Now

Before my cracked tooth, I didn’t think about stopping them. Now I do a lot more.

How I Protect My Teeth Now:

1. I don’t eat hard stuff:

No more chewing ice or hard candy.

2. I wear a mouthguard:

I grind my teeth at night. My dentist made me a custom guard, like what you’d get from a night guard dental lab. It felt odd at first but now I barely know it’s there.

3. I see the dentist twice a year:

Even if nothing hurts, I go twice yearly. Catching things early is easier.

4. I watch old fillings:

Old fillings can make teeth weaker. My dentist checks them every visit.

5. I brush and floss:

Good brushing and flossing really helps stop tooth trouble.

Conclusion: Don’t Wait—My Real Advice

If you even think you have a cracked tooth, see a dentist soon. Dental troubles don’t go away by themselves. Listen to the signs.

Remember:

• Cracks start with little signs. Don’t ignore them.
• Figuring it out is part questions, part test, and part looking closely.
• Fixing goes from simple bonding all the way to pulling the tooth, based on how bad it is.
• Crowns and root canals are strong, long-term ways to save teeth with deep cracks.
• Doing small things—like not chewing hard foods, wearing a guard, and dentist trips—keeps teeth safe.

I hope my story helps you feel ready if you have to face this, too. From someone who’s been there: fixing the problem early saves you pain, money, and a lot of headaches.

This article was checked and approved by Dr. Joe Dental, DDS—skilled in fixing and preventing tooth problems.