Back teeth are remarkably strong, but they can chip, crack (fracture) or break. This can happen in several ways:

• Biting down on something hard
• Being hit in the face or mouth
• Having cavities and large fillings that weaken the tooth – this is most common

When a back tooth chips or breaks, it may not hurt. However, your tongue usually feels the sharp area quite quickly. Minor tooth fractures usually don't cause pain, but if a large piece of the tooth breaks off, it can hurt. That's because the nerve inside the tooth may be damaged. If it is exposed to air, or hot or cold foods or drinks, it can be extremely uncomfortable.

Pain from a broken or cracked tooth may be constant or may come and go. Many people feel pain when they chew because chewing puts pressure on the tooth.

There is no way to treat a cracked tooth at home. Sometimes the tooth looks fine, but it hurts only when you eat or when the temperature in your mouth changes (because you drank something hot or cold, for example). If your tooth hurts all the time, it may have a damaged nerve or blood vessels. This is a serious warning sign, and the tooth may end up requiring root canal treatment. The sooner we see you, the better – sometimes root canals can be avoided.

Broken teeth are usually occur on teeth with cavities or on teeth that have been weakened by large fillings. When a tooth breaks, sometimes the tooth's nerve is in danger. A damaged nerve usually will require root canal treatment. The sooner we see you, the better – sometimes root canals can be avoided.