Cracked Teeth

Cracked teeth demonstrate many types of symptoms, including pain when chewing, temperature sensitivities, or even the release of biting pressure. It is also common for tooth pain to come and go, making it difficult to diagnose the cause of discomfort.

Chewing can cause movement of the cracked pieces of your tooth, and the pulp within the tooth becomes irritated. At the same time, when biting pressure is released, the crack can close quickly, resulting in sharp pain. Eventually, the pulp will become damaged and tooth will consistently hurt, even when you are not chewing. It is possible that cracks can lead to infection of the pulp tissue, which can spread to the bone and gum surrounding the problematic tooth.

Types of Cracks

A depiction of craze lines on teeth

Craze lines

These are tiny cracks that only affect the outer enamel of the tooth. These cracks are more common in adults. These types of cracks are superficial and are usually of no concern.

An example of a tooth with a fractured cusp

Fractured Cusp

When a cusp becomes weakened, a fracture may result. The cusp may break off or be removed by a dentist. A fractured cusp rarely damages the pulp, so root canal is not necessary. Your dentist will usually restore the tooth with a full crown.

A sample of a tooth showing a treatable cracked tooth

Treatable Cracked Tooth

This type of crack extends from the chewing surface of the tooth and vertically migrates towards the root. In some cases, the crack may extend below the gum line. It is possible for the crack to extend further into the root. Damage to the pulp is commonplace. In this case, root canal treatment is usually necessary. A cracked tooth that is not treated will worsen, resulting in the loss of the tooth. Therefore, early detection is essential.

A depiction of a tooth split with distinct segments

Split Tooth

A split tooth is usually the result of an untreated cracked tooth. It can be identified by a crack with distinct segments. This type of tooth can never be saved.

An example of a vertical fracture starting at the tooth's root

Vertical Root Fracture

A vertical root fracture begins at the root and extends towards the chewing surface of the tooth. Unfortunately, they show minimal symptoms and may go unnoticed. Treatment is usually extraction of  the tooth.

Eric R. Volk DDS LLC

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This is my third root canal. Dr. Volk did an outstanding job as usual. Frankly, I would never choose anyone else for a root canal. He is an outstanding dentist that has the patient's best interest at heart. The staff and Dr. Volk are friendly, respectful, caring and courteous of your time. The office is run very smoothly and efficiently. I would definitely recommend.

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Dr. Volk and his staff are unparalleled in skill, professionalism and service. For me, there is no other choice but Dr. Volk and his team. Simply the best!

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Excellent care and professionalism from start to finish...a no pain during procedure!

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I highly recommend Dr. Volk and his team!

- Jill A

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Everyone in the office was courteous and friendly. The procedure went smoothly and I never felt any discomfort or pain. Every step was explained to me. I would highly recommend Dr. Volk and his staff.

- Carol P

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No pain, good communication, and great procedure with no problems.

- Charles H

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Better than getting a filling! Dr. Volk is very aware and concerned about your comfort and well-being. Very good at what he does.

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Greatest dentist experience. Will come back

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Great Experience. Dr. Volk and staff were wonderful. Hope to not need another root canal but wouldn’t go anywhere else if I did.

- Saada S

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Excellent care and patient interaction!

- Jane H

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Everything with my visit was top notch. I highly recommend Dr. Volk for any Endodontic procedures. His staff was very friendly and patient.

- Diszell G

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This is the second time I had to go see Dr. Volk for a Root Canal. I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Volk and his staff. They are all unbelievable and care about their patients. I was in such pain, when I called first thing in the morning to explain my situation, they got me in the same day. I got to his office in the early afternoon and Dr. Volk completed my procedure. Hands down, Dr. Volk and his staff are the best. You will not find a better Endodontiic dentist anywhere. Thank you so much for treating me and getting me back to normal.

- Jeff P

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Need a root canal!? THIS IS YOUR GUY. Wonderful experience with Dr. Volk and his team. They got me in for an appointment super quickly (next day) to address my tooth pain. I found out I needed a root canal and had never had this procedure done before, so I was really nervous about it. Dr. Volk and his team were extremely friendly and patient with me and all my questions. They explained the procedure thoroughly before starting and checked-in frequently during the procedure to make sure I was doing okay and not experiencing any pain. I experienced ZERO pain during the my procedure and only one VERY minor pinch with the first numbing injection. The following ones were completely painless. Dr. Volk is extremely gentle with his technique, who could have thought a root canal could be COMFORTABLE. This made my first root canal experience a walk in the park! I could tell his team is also very knowledgeable and experienced so things ran very smoothly and I felt confident that I was in good hands. Best experience I have had with dental work ever! If I ever need more dental work like this I would definitely go back to him. Thank you so very much Dr. Volk and team!!! I am so appreciative for the care and compassion that you provided to me.

- Erin H

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Very friendly and professional staff. I appreciate the level of empathy and care they showed from scheduling the appointment and making sure I had a pain free experience! Thank you for being an amazing practice!

- Michelle M

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Very comfortable and pain free appointment. I was in pain before I got here.

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Entire experiences was as painless as could be. Staff and experience were amazing

- Shawna M

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This was by far the greatest dental procedure experience I have had in my entire life. Everyone was so friendly and helpful and it was clear that my comfort was their number one priority. I will be recommending this practice to everyone I know.

- Caroline R

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The very best root canal experience. I was in pain when I walked in the door, but had such a pleasant experience I was smiling when I left. The waiting room was clean and neat, the staff were professional and warm, and Dr. Volk was exceptional! Hope I don’t need another root canal anytime soon but if I do, I know exactly where I’m coming and without hesitation!

- Qiana W

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Excellent job

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Easy appointment

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