Cracked Tooth Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Costs

If you're experiencing tooth pain but nothing is showing up on your dental X-rays, you may have a fractured or cracked tooth.¹ Known as cracked tooth syndrome (CTS), a tooth fracture can be tricky to diagnose and a serious issue — sometimes even causing your tooth to break or split.²

Most often occurring in the front teeth or back molars, a tooth fracture can affect the part of your tooth above your gums (the crown); the root below your gums; or any of the layers of the teeth, including the outer enamel, middle dentin or soft inner pulp.²

Common Causes of Cracked Tooth Syndrome

CTS is most commonly seen in children and older adults but can happen to anyone. With children, it's often trauma-related, like falling off a bike or getting hit in a contact sport; adults over the age of 50 are at risk of fracturing a tooth because their teeth are weakened by age and more easily broken or chipped.²

Other common causes of cracked tooth syndrome include:

• Biting down on hard foods
• Large dental fillings or root canals
• Clenching your jaws and/or grinding your teeth
• Trauma such as falls or car accidents²
• Misaligned jaw/teeth that cause more pressure on certain teeth than others
• History of fractured teeth¹

Symptoms of Cracked Tooth Syndrome

While it's possible to have a fractured tooth without any symptoms, most people eventually notice some level of pain, sensitivity and/or swelling with the particular tooth, especially when chewing or consuming hot or cold foods. Unlike a cavity that hurts constantly, a fracture only causes discomfort when you're biting or chewing.²

Types of Tooth Fractures

There are five main categories for tooth fractures:

• Craze line or hairline crack is a small, thin fracture on the enamel that doesn't cause pain.
• Fractured cusp is a crack around a filling that isn't usually that painful.
• Cracked tooth is a vertical crack from the surface of your tooth to your gum line.
• Split tooth is a vertical crack that starts at the surface and runs below your gum line that splits your tooth in two.
• Vertical root fracture is a vertical crack that starts below your gum line and travels upwards that may not be painful until/unless it causes an infection.²

Treatment Options for Cracked Tooth Syndrome

It's important to get evaluated by a dentist right away if you think you have CTS. A cracked tooth will not heal on its own and left untreated, you risk part of your tooth breaking off and causing an infection or nerve damage.¹

The good news is that treatment may be able to save your tooth, and there are several treatment options, depending on the severity of your fracture:

• Bonding: This procedure fills in the fracture with plastic resin.
• Veneer: If you have a good amount of your natural tooth left, your dentist may suggest a veneer, which covers the front of your tooth with a porcelain or a composite resin.
• Crown: If there isn't enough tooth left for a veneer, your dentist may recommend fitting your tooth with a porcelain or ceramic cap.
• Cosmetic contouring: Rounding and smoothing of the rough edges
• Root canal: Commonly recommended when the fracture extends into your tooth pulp, this method removes the damaged section to save the rest of the tooth.
• Tooth extraction: When there is severe damage, the dentist may need to remove your entire tooth.²

It's important to consult with your dentist, as sometimes they may not even recommend any treatment if the fracture isn't causing pain; at other times they might refer you to an endodontist (a dental specialist for root and pulp issues). After treatment, repaired teeth can last for many years.³

If you can't get in to see a dentist right away, placing an ice pack on your mouth may help with swelling. Taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) can also help with pain and swelling; rinsing your mouth with salt water may help prevent infection.²

Cracked Tooth Syndrome Treatment Costs

The costs for CTS treatment varies based on several factors, such as whether or not you have dental insurance, where you are located, etc. Estimated costs of these procedures are as follows:

How to Prevent Cracked Tooth Syndrome

While accidents and aging are out of your control, you can take steps to prevent CTS from happening. Good dental hygiene — like keeping your teeth and gums healthy, flossing, wearing a mouthguard while playing sports, avoiding chewing hard foods/ice and seeing your dentist regularly — can help reduce your risk.²

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Cracked Tooth Syndrome Treatment

Regular dental checkups are important to help prevent, identify and treat dental problems, like cracked tooth syndrome, before they become more advanced. The CareCredit credit card can help you pay for dental exams, cosmetic dental procedures and other costs that insurance doesn't cover — to help you keep your pearly whites bright and healthy.* Apply today and use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist near you that accepts CareCredit. Make the most of your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App. You can find a provider on the go, manage your CareCredit account, and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

Author Bio

Abbie Mood is a freelance writer with more than 10 years of experience. She has worked with clients of all sizes to create compelling content and she has written for the American Kennel Club, Marriott Bonvoy, Women's Health Online, Headspace and more.