Glendale, Arizona
Sharp pain when you bite down, sensitivity that won't quit, or a visible chip, a cracked tooth almost always gets worse without treatment. Smile Science Dental Spa diagnoses the exact type of crack and recommends the most conservative treatment that can save your tooth today.
A cracked tooth will not heal on its own. Every bite deepens the fracture. Same-day appointments are available, call now and we will prioritize you.
(480) 530-3663The type, location, and depth of a crack determine your treatment options and whether the tooth can be saved. Tap each type to understand what it means for you.
Tiny surface cracks in the enamel only. Extremely common in adults, especially on back teeth. They cause no pain, pose no structural risk, and require no treatment beyond monitoring. Often noticed only during a dental exam.
A piece of the tooth's chewing surface breaks away, usually around a large filling or weakened enamel. Often causes minimal pain because the pulp (nerve) is rarely involved. A crown typically restores the tooth completely.
A crack that starts at the chewing surface and extends down toward, or into, the root. This is the classic cracked tooth syndrome. Pain when biting and releasing is the hallmark symptom.
If the crack has not yet reached the pulp, a crown can stop its progression. Once the pulp is involved, a root canal is needed first. Do not delay, every bite deepens the fracture.
The tooth has fully separated into two distinct segments, the end stage of an untreated cracked tooth. The segments can no longer be united. Whether a portion of the tooth can be saved depends on the location of the fracture. Extraction of at least one root is usually required.
A crack that begins in the root and extends upward toward the crown. Often painless for months until the surrounding bone and gum become infected. Frequently discovered on X-ray or CBCT. The prognosis is poor, extraction is usually necessary, but a dental implant can replace the tooth predictably.
Cracked teeth are notoriously difficult to self-diagnose. The symptoms are often intermittent and can mimic other dental problems. You might have a cracked tooth if you notice:
Teeth crack for a variety of reasons, and it can happen to anyone regardless of how well they care for their teeth. Common causes include:
Ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels, unpopped seeds, or using teeth as tools places sudden impact force that enamel was not designed to absorb.
Chronic nocturnal grinding produces sustained lateral forces that fracture enamel over time, often starting at the edges of existing fillings.
A tooth with a large amalgam or composite filling has less structural integrity. The remaining walls of enamel are thinner and more susceptible to fracture.
A blow to the face, a fall, or a sports impact can crack teeth even without knocking them out. Cracks from trauma are not always immediately painful.
Eating very hot food followed immediately by cold, or vice versa, causes rapid expansion and contraction that can initiate micro-fractures over time.
Cracks do not close or heal on their own. Every time you chew, biting forces push on both sides of the fracture line. Here is how the progression typically unfolds:
Sensitivity and pain intensify. The dentin tubules conduct temperature and pressure changes directly to the nerve, making eating increasingly uncomfortable.
Bacteria now have a pathway to the nerve and blood supply. The pulp becomes inflamed (pulpitis) and then infected. Constant, throbbing pain sets in. A root canal is now required to save the tooth.
Infection spreads to the root tip and into the surrounding bone, forming a periapical abscess. Swelling, pus, and fever may develop. The bone around the root begins to dissolve.
Once the crack completes and the tooth separates, or infection destroys enough bone support, extraction becomes unavoidable. At this point, an implant or bridge is required to restore the space.
The earlier a crack is treated, the simpler and less expensive the treatment. Many cracked teeth caught before they reach the pulp need only a crown.
Cracks are often invisible on standard X-rays. Our diagnostic process uses multiple methods to locate and assess the fracture before recommending any treatment.
Dental loupes and focused lighting reveal hairline fractures that are invisible to the naked eye. We examine all surfaces of every suspect tooth.
A high-intensity fiber optic light is shone through the tooth. Cracks scatter light differently than intact enamel, revealing fracture lines that would otherwise be invisible.
We have you bite on a small plastic instrument one cusp at a time. Sharp pain when biting on a specific cusp and releasing pressure localizes the crack to a precise location.
Periapical X-rays reveal infection, bone loss, and widening of the periodontal ligament space, indicators that a crack has progressed or an abscess has formed at the root tip.
For complex or suspected vertical root fractures, our in-house CBCT scanner produces a 3D image of the tooth and surrounding bone. This is the most precise tool available for assessing fracture depth and extent.
We probe around the entire perimeter of the gumline. A narrow, isolated deep pocket, a "draining sinus", often indicates a vertical root fracture even before it is visible on X-ray.
Treatment is matched to the type and depth of the crack. Our goal is always to use the most conservative approach that reliably solves the problem.
Craze lines confined to enamel require only monitoring. We note their presence and recheck at your regular appointments. No intervention is needed unless they deepen or cause symptoms.
For small chips or cosmetic cracks limited to enamel, tooth-colored composite resin is bonded and shaped directly to the tooth in a single visit. No anesthesia is often needed. This is the fastest and most conservative repair.
A crown is the standard treatment for a cracked tooth whose pulp is still healthy. The crown encases the entire tooth, preventing the crack from spreading further under biting forces. We fabricate same-day CAD/CAM crowns (Planmeca CAD/CAM with exocad design software) on-site, no temporary crown, no second appointment. The crown must be placed promptly; delay risks the crack reaching the pulp.
When the crack has reached the pulp, root canal therapy removes the infected or inflamed nerve tissue and seals the canals. The tooth is then restored with a crown. Modern root canals with proper anesthesia are straightforward, most patients are surprised how comfortable the procedure is. The tooth is preserved and functional.
When a tooth cannot be saved, prompt extraction prevents ongoing infection and bone loss. Dr. Dawson places the dental implant in the same surgical site once healing is adequate. A dental implant is the most durable, natural-feeling tooth replacement available and does not require altering adjacent teeth.
The most important factor is timing. Most cracked teeth are completely saveable when treated before the crack reaches the pulp. Once infection has set in, the tooth can still usually be saved with a root canal and crown, but cost and treatment time increase.
The crack types that cannot generally be saved are split teeth (where the tooth has separated into two pieces) and vertical root fractures that have compromised significant bone support. In those cases, we focus on the cleanest possible extraction and the best replacement option.
If you are unsure whether your tooth is saveable, call us. A 30-minute diagnostic appointment gives you a clear answer and a specific treatment plan. You do not have to guess.
Your fee is quoted in writing at your consultation, before any treatment.
This content is educational. Cracked tooth symptoms require prompt evaluation. Same-day appointments available at Smile Science Dental Spa, call (480) 530-3663.
Interactive fracture identifier
Not all tooth cracks are the same, a craze line needs only monitoring; a cracked tooth needs prompt care; a split tooth may need extraction. Walk through the same bite tests and symptom questions a dentist uses to identify fracture type and urgency.
Not a diagnosis. Fracture type and urgency are confirmed by clinical exam, transillumination, and bite tests. If you have severe pain, facial swelling, or a visible piece of tooth has broken off, call (480) 530-3663 or seek emergency care now.
Reference
Tooth cracks follow five distinct patterns from surface-only craze lines to root fractures. The signature symptoms on the left are what your dentist tests for; the description and treatment are on the right. Only an in-person exam with bite tests and transillumination can confirm a fracture type.
Signature symptoms
Hairline cracks limited to the outer enamel layer. No structural threat to the tooth and no treatment required, but a dentist should confirm there is no deeper involvement.
Signature symptoms
A cusp, one of the pointed corners of a back tooth, has broken away, usually around an existing filling. The nerve is rarely involved. A crown restores the tooth.
Treated with Crown or onlay →
Signature symptoms
An incomplete crack running from the crown downward, it has not yet split the tooth into two pieces. The hallmark is pain on releasing the bite as the crack flexes open. Without treatment, it progresses to a split tooth or root fracture.
Treated with Crown; root canal if the nerve is involved →
Signature symptoms
A cracked tooth that has propagated all the way through, splitting the tooth into distinct segments. The tooth is usually not restorable as a whole. Extraction is nearly always required, and replacement planning begins immediately.
Treated with Extraction and tooth replacement planning →
Signature symptoms
A crack that begins in the root and extends upward toward the crown, often after root canal treatment. It is frequently silent until an abscess forms around the root. Extraction is almost always required.
Treated with Extraction in most cases →
No. Tooth enamel cannot regenerate or repair itself. A crack will not close, seal, or shrink over time. It will remain the same or deepen under normal biting forces. The sooner you have it evaluated and treated, the simpler and less expensive the solution.
Yes. Many cracked teeth are not very painful in the early stages, especially craze lines and fractured cusps. But absence of pain does not mean the crack is not progressing. A cracked tooth treated before symptoms worsen nearly always requires simpler treatment. Waiting until it hurts significantly often means the crack has reached the pulp.
Yes, for the vast majority of cases. A crown holds the tooth together and distributes biting forces across the entire crown, preventing the crack from deepening. This is why prompt crown placement after a cracked tooth diagnosis is important, the longer you wait, the more likely the crack progresses to the pulp during that interval.
Bonding can be done in a single 30, 60 minute visit. A crown with our system for same-day CAD/CAM crowns (Planmeca CAD/CAM with exocad design software) is completed in a single 90, 120 minute appointment, no temporary and no return visit for a crown cementation. If a root canal is also needed, that typically adds 60, 90 minutes and can often be combined with the crown prep in the same visit.
The crack will deepen. A tooth that needed only a crown can become a tooth that needs a root canal and crown. A tooth that needed a root canal and crown can split in half or develop an abscess. In the worst case, the infection spreads to surrounding bone and the tooth is lost entirely, leaving you needing an implant or bridge at considerably greater expense.
It depends on depth. A visible hairline in enamel may be a craze line, cosmetic only, not a concern. A visible crack that extends toward the gumline or appears to separate tooth structure warrants same-day evaluation. If you can see daylight through it, or if it involves a tooth with a large filling, call us today.
Most dental insurance plans cover crowns and root canals at 50 % after your deductible, subject to annual maximums. Some plans cover bonding. We will verify your benefits before treatment and give you a clear breakdown of estimated out-of-pocket costs. Financing through CareCredit, Cherry, and Sunbit is available with no-interest options.
Yes, and you should be significantly more comfortable eating once the crown is placed. Immediately after the anesthetic wears off, the area may be tender for a day or two, particularly if a root canal was also performed. By the end of the first week, most patients report no discomfort whatsoever. We recommend avoiding extremely hard foods (ice, hard candy) on any crown permanently.
4.9 stars from 450+ Google reviews
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Smile Science Dental Spa, and I couldn't be more impressed with the level of care and service provided by the entire team. Dr. Dawson and Dr. Turke are both incredibly skilled and made me feel completely at ease throughout my procedures. Their professionalism, combined with their gentle approach, made me feel comfortable and well-informed every step of the way. I was especially impressed that I was able to get a same-day crown(apparently their first ever!), which exceeded my expectations. I couldn’t believe how quick and seamless the process was. It really saved me time and made the experience even more convenient. Cindiray and Angeles, the dental assistants, were equally wonderful. They were not only friendly and attentive but also thorough in explaining everything and made sure I was relaxed during each phase of my visit. Lastly, a big thank you to Litzy at the front desk, who greeted me with a smile and helped with scheduling and any questions I had. She made the entire check-in process a breeze. From start to finish, my experience at Smile Science Dental Spa was exceptional. I'll be returning for sure. I highly, highly, highly recommend them for anyone looking for high-quality dental care.
View Full Review on GoogleDusty
Honestly I’ve never been so happy to go to the dentist. I came in (late due to Lyft) and was still taken care of and treated with care. Even without insurance (kicking in within the next month) prices for an extraction on my infected tooth were more than reasonable. I was able to get more than expected done in the same visit. Dr. Dawson and his team made me feel so comfortable and taken care of. Won’t go anywhere else.
View Full Review on GoogleCherish B
I recently started as a patient after leaving our long-time family Dentist and couldn’t be happier! Marcela is AMAZING and a FANTASTIC hygienist!!!! 😃 Dr Dawson is great too! Every time I visit, they make me feel like family.
View Full Review on GoogleTJ Winzeler
Myself and my family had previously gone to Dr. Turk at another dental office that he worked at. He had relocated and we did not know where he had gone to until this week. Today I got in with Dr. Turk and he took the time to look at my x-rays carefully . I was having pain from a tooth and some other issues. The previous Dentist I went to that I saw just a few days earlier, he did not find any issues with my tooth which I had pain in. Dr. Turk identified infection and referred me to an endodontist. He is very gentle as a wonderful disposition and my self and my family are thrilled to be able to get back with him. The office is lovely, relaxing music, heat and massage chair.I have always been very nervous and some anxiety going to dentist as I have had bad reactions with the anesthesia. I am confident that Dr. Kirk will help me get through my next appointment just fine. “The staff are very kind and attentive. I am looking forward as I have quite a bit of work to be done, and I know I’m in good hands with Dr. Turk and his staff. Five stars!⭐️ Sherry
View Full Review on GoogleSherry Redmond
I recently moved to Arizona and had an issue with a tooth repair from 15 years back. Not knowing anyone here in my new home, I searched dentists close to me. I chose Smile Science much like pinning the tail on the donkey and my selection couldn't have been better! What a terrific staff! Dr. Turke was concerned the tooth would need to be extracted, but said he wanted to take a shot at saving it..and that's just what he did! After setting a temporary crown, I was on my way with an appointment to install the permanent crown in the following two weeks. That evening I received a call I've never received from a dentist. Dr. Turke had taken the time to follow up with me to make sure I wasn't in any discomfort..I was completely caught off guard by this kind of attention to detail and caring for my well being. The permanent crown is now in place, it fits and feels fantastic, the job and treatment are first class! Thank you, Dr. Turke and staff for taking in this stray and giving me a home dentist! I'd like to say that I'm just good at selecting blindly, but the truth is I am very lucky..and I'll take lucky over being good any day of the week! Thank you, again and Happiest of New Year's in 2026, Science Smile!!
View Full Review on GoogleEddy
Early treatment saves teeth. Smile Science Dental Spa offers same-day diagnostics and treatment for cracked teeth in Glendale, AZ. Most cracked teeth are completely saveable when treated promptly.
