A cracked tooth doesn’t always mean it's beyond repair or saving. In many cases, a dental crown can protect a cracked tooth and restore its appearance and function. However, a crown may not be suitable for every situation. Whether a dental crown is right for you will depend on the location, depth, and extent of the crack.
Visiting a dentist for a detailed evaluation is the first step toward finding the right treatment.
Can a Crown Fix a Cracked Tooth?
Yes. In most cases, a crown can fix a cracked or damaged tooth.
A dental crown is a custom-made tooth-shaped cap that covers the damaged or cracked tooth. Crowns protect teeth with significant structural damage or that may have recently had a filling.
When a tooth is cracked, a crown is usually the most common solution the doctor will recommend to protect the remaining tooth structure.
Why is the crown needed?
A dental crown is made of a strong, durable material and helps protect the remaining portion of a damaged tooth from the pressure of biting and chewing. It also prevents further damage to the tooth and the condition from worsening.
Without the crown, a crack may continue to expand and eventually reach and infect the tooth's pulp. If that happens, your dentist may recommend a root canal, which also requires a crown post-treatment.
However, not all cracks require a root canal. If the damage is limited to the chewing surface, a dentist can treat it with a filling combined with a crown.
When Can a Crown Not Fix a Cracked Tooth?
If the damage is too extensive or the crack has reached the pulp, it can cause inflammation or infection. In that case, a crown alone cannot repair the damage.
Symptoms of pulp infection may include throbbing pain when chewing, sensitivity to hot or cold foods, persistent discomfort, and swelling around the tooth.
A dentist can evaluate the tooth to determine whether the pulp has become irreversibly infected. If it has, root canal treatment may be the only way to save the tooth. The procedure includes drilling a hole in the tooth to remove the affected pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the root canals, sealing them with a proper material, and placing a crown to protect the remaining tooth structure.
While the primary goal of a dental crown is to protect the tooth's remaining structure from further damage, a root canal treats the infected tissue inside the tooth.
When is Your Tooth Beyond Saving?
Not every cracked tooth can be saved with a crown or a root canal. Here are some situations when a cracked tooth may be difficult to save:
- If a crack has extended below the gum line.
- If the tooth has split into distinct segments, it can't be restored intact.
- Back molars with extensive damage can be difficult to save.
- Vertical root fractures or cracks that start from the root and extend toward the chewing surface may often require extraction.
This is why understanding the type and extent of the crack is important to determine whether a crown is the right treatment option. A crown can protect a treatable tooth after filling or a root canal, but it can't repair or restore a tooth with extensive damage.
Does a Crown Make the Crack Heal?
No. A crown’s primary job is to protect the tooth, not heal it.
A tooth once cracked or damaged can’t heal in the same way a broken bone can. A crown can protect it and reduce the risk of further damage, but it doesn't repair the existing crack.
A crown is usually not a complete solution for a cracked tooth. Depending on the extent of the crack, treatment such as a filling or a root canal can restore or reduce the damage.
However, that doesn’t mean a crown is not important. In fact, most of the above treatments still require a crown to protect the remaining or restored tooth structure.
For instance, a root canal treatment often requires a full-coverage crown as an important part of the final restoration. This helps protect the remaining tooth structure and prevents further damage.
Conclusion: What To Do If You Have a Cracked Tooth?
If you notice a cracked or severely damaged tooth, don't wait. Schedule a professional examination today. A cracked tooth can be easy to repair or save if treated early. If ignored, it can worsen over time.
A dental crown is an important part of the restoration procedure for a cracked tooth. However, it alone cannot fix or repair the tooth. It’s often combined with a treatment such as a filling or a root canal and helps protect the restored or remaining tooth structure and prevent further damage.
When you visit a dentist for evaluation, they will check the tooth’s condition and the extent of the crack to determine whether restoration is possible. For minor cracks, a simple filling with a crown may be enough, while extensive pulp damage may require a root canal.
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