Cracked Tooth: Can It Be Saved?

Can a cracked tooth be saved? The warning signs to watch for, why cracks are often invisible on X-rays, how endodontists find them with microscopes and 3D imaging, and why acting early can save the tooth with a root canal and crown. 60 seconds.

Video Transcript

Cracked tooth — can it be saved? Here are the endodontic insights you need. First, how to spot a fracture. The warning signs are sharp pain when biting that suddenly releases, lingering sensitivity to cold or sweet, and unpredictable pain that comes and goes. The problem is that many cracks are invisible on ordinary X-rays. Endodontists find them using high-powered microscopes and 3D imaging. The good news: caught early, a cracked tooth can be saved — with a root canal and a crown. But wait too long, and the crack spreads below the gumline. At that point, extraction becomes the only option. With a cracked tooth, time matters — more than almost any other dental problem. Don't wait for the pain to return.