How do you fix a cracked tooth? It depends on how deep the crack goes. A small chip can be smoothed or rebuilt with bonding in one visit. A deeper crack may need a crown, root canal treatment, or occasionally removal of the tooth. This guide explains what to do when it happens, the signs of a cracked tooth, and the repair options.
What to do if you chip or break a tooth
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water.
- If a piece has broken off, keep it in milk or saline and bring it with you.
- Hold a cold pack wrapped in a cloth against your cheek if there is swelling.
- Avoid chewing on that side and avoid very hot or cold food and drink.
- See a dentist as soon as you can, even if it does not hurt.
A tooth that has been knocked out completely is an emergency. Hold it by the crown, not the root, put it back in the socket if you can or keep it in milk, and get to a dentist straight away.
Signs of a cracked tooth
Cracks are often too fine to see. Common signs are:
- a sharp pain when you bite, or when you release the bite
- sensitivity to cold, heat or sweet food
- pain that comes and goes and is hard to pin to one tooth
- a rough or sharp edge you can feel with your tongue
- swelling of the gum beside one tooth
Types of cracked and chipped teeth
- Minor chip. A small piece of enamel has broken off, usually from a front tooth or the corner of a back tooth.
- Cracked cusp. One of the points on a back tooth breaks, often next to a large filling.
- Cracked tooth. A crack runs from the biting surface down towards the root. The tooth is still in one piece.
- Split tooth. A crack has gone right through and the tooth is in two parts.
- Root fracture. The crack starts in the root and may show only as a gum infection.
How a cracked or chipped tooth is repaired
- Smoothing and polishing. Very small chips may only need the sharp edge rounded off.
- Composite bonding. Tooth-coloured resin rebuilds a chipped corner or edge, usually in a single visit. See composite bonding.
- Filling, inlay or onlay. A broken cusp or a failed filling can be rebuilt. See dental fillings and inlays and onlays.
- Crown. A crown covers the whole tooth and holds a cracked tooth together so the crack is less likely to spread. See dental crowns.
- Root canal treatment and a crown. If the crack has reached the nerve, the tooth usually needs root canal treatment before it is crowned.
- Extraction. A tooth that has split below the gum line, or has a fractured root, often cannot be saved. It can be replaced with an implant, a bridge or a denture.
Can a cracked tooth heal by itself?
No. Unlike bone, a tooth cannot knit back together. Cracks tend to spread with chewing, so a crack treated early is more likely to be saved with a simpler repair.
What causes teeth to crack?
- biting something hard, such as ice, bones, olive pits or unpopped popcorn
- clenching or grinding the teeth, particularly at night
- large fillings that leave the remaining tooth thin
- a knock to the mouth during sport or a fall
- age, as teeth that have been in use for decades are more brittle
A custom sports mouthguard protects teeth during contact sport, and a night guard protects them if you grind your teeth.
Cracked tooth FAQs
Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency?
A small chip with no pain is not an emergency, but book a visit soon so the edge can be repaired before it chips further. Severe pain, bleeding that will not stop, or a tooth that has been knocked out needs same-day care.
How is a cracked molar treated?
Most cracked molars are treated with a crown. If the nerve is affected, root canal treatment is done first.
Can a dentist fix a cracked front tooth?
Usually. Small chips and cracks in front teeth are commonly repaired with bonding. Larger breaks may need a veneer or crown.
How much does it cost to repair a broken tooth?
It depends on the repair needed. We examine the tooth, explain the options and give you the fee before any treatment.
Broken or cracked tooth in Penrith?
Call Penrith Dental Care on (02) 4733 1197 and we will offer the earliest appointment available. See our emergency dentist page for what to do in the meantime.
Source: Healthdirect Australia, Dental injury (last reviewed February 2026). This article is general information only and does not replace an assessment with a registered dental practitioner.
Looking for more dental health tips? Browse all articles on the Penrith Dental Care blog, or meet the Penrith Dental Care team. Have a question? See our dental FAQ.
Reviewed by Mina Gibryal, Penrith Dental Care, October 2026. This article is general information and does not replace advice from your own dental practitioner.