Cracked Teeth

If you have cracked or chipped teeth, it can be disheartening, and you may cover your smile when talking or laughing. But cracked teeth can also lead to tooth infections, cavities, further breakage and even tooth loss if left untreated.

We want to help you enjoy a full, beautiful and healthy smile, which is why we offer tooth-coloured restorations for cracked and chipped teeth.

Small Tooth Cracks or Chips

For smaller tooth cracks and chips that are more cosmetic, your dentist may opt to use tooth-coloured resin to seal the crack discreetly. Tooth-coloured resin is also used for dental fillings and tooth bonding.

Bonding means coating your tooth with composite resin and spreading the material evenly to conceal the cosmetic crack or chip. We then set this with a special curing light and finish with a polish. Bonding is an inexpensive way to restore the look of a tooth or teeth.  Think of this as like fixing a chip in your windscreen.

Dental Crowns for Cracked Teeth

If your tooth crack is larger and deeper, more complex treatment will be required to maintain the health of your tooth. 

An inlay or onlay is a sturdy tooth-coloured partial crown.

A full dental crown is a tooth-shaped cover that goes over an existing tooth to the gum line. It is coloured and designed to blend with your natural teeth, and it conceals the following:

• Tooth discolouration
• Shape abnormalities
• Chips and cracks
• Small gaps between teeth

Your dentist bonds your crown to your cracked tooth following the pre-treatment to damaged tooth structure. This provides a buffer between your bite and the tooth, which helps prevent further fractures and tooth loss.

Which option is right for you?

The right way to repair your tooth crack depends on the extent of the fracture and other factors. Our dentists will evaluate your case, take x-rays if needed and discuss all the options with you.

Also be aware that if the tooth crack has spread to the root of the tooth, root canal treatment or extraction of the tooth may be required.

We encourage your questions during your consultation and will always find the option that feels right for you.

Preventing Tooth Cracks

Teeth do a lot of work, and sometimes they wear down and crack—especially if your bite is not aligned. Your dentist will evaluate your bite alignment and make recommendations to help correct the issue.

If you grind and clench your teeth (bruxism), you might consider a splint to prevent tooth breakage, cavities and tooth loss. A splint gently separates your upper and lower jaw with a barrier as you sleep.

If you are athletic and compete in sports, we offer custom mouthguards to protect your teeth from mouth trauma on the playing field as well.

Contact us for help with preventing and restoring a cracked tooth

If you have a cracked tooth, it is important to seek dental care even if it is at the back of your mouth and not causing pain. A tooth crack can lead to infection and even tooth loss. We want to help you avoid these complications in the future.

We proudly serve patients in Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo, Cowra, and many nearby communities.