How do I know if my tooth is cracked?

Cracked teeth show a variety of symptoms, including erratic pain when chewing, possibly with release of biting pressure, or pain when your tooth is exposed to temperature extremes. In many cases, the pain may come and go, and your dentist may have difficulty locating which tooth is causing the discomfort. 

Cracks typically extend from the chewing surfaces of the tooth vertically towards the root. A cracked tooth can be, but is not always completely separated into two distinct segments. Because of the position of the crack, damage to the pulp is common.

If there is need to treat injured pulp, Root canal treatment is frequently needed. Your dentist will then restore your tooth with a crown to hold the pieces together and protect the cracked tooth. At times, the crack may extend below the gingival tissue (gum) line, possibly requiring tooth extraction.