Dental Emergencies & Tooth Problems · Video
Cracked Tooth or Craze Line? 3 Clues
Craze lines are shallow enamel marks and are usually painless, while a deeper crack may cause pain with chewing, pain when releasing your bite, or sensitivity to hot and cold. Appearance alone cannot show how deep a line extends, so symptoms should be evaluated.
Educational video. This is general education and cannot diagnose the depth of a tooth crack.
Clues that a line may need evaluation
A craze line is a tiny, shallow mark limited to enamel and is common in adult teeth. It is usually painless. A deeper crack may feel different: some patients notice sharp or inconsistent pain while chewing, pain when they release biting pressure, or sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures.
Those clues are useful, but they are not a diagnosis. Some cracks are painless at first, and a line's appearance does not reveal how deep it goes. A dentist needs to examine the tooth and consider the symptoms before explaining whether the mark is superficial or may involve a deeper part of the tooth.
Protect the tooth while arranging an examination
Until the tooth is evaluated, avoid chewing hard foods on that side. Arrange an examination especially when the line is accompanied by pain, swelling, fever, temperature sensitivity, or a piece of tooth that has broken away. New or worsening symptoms deserve prompt attention rather than repeated self-testing by biting on the tooth.
The cracked-tooth versus craze-line guide provides a fuller comparison of symptoms and explains why visual appearance alone is unreliable. Use that guide to understand the signs, then schedule a dental examination for an individual assessment instead of assuming that a painless-looking line is harmless.
Important: This information cannot diagnose a crack. Seek prompt dental care for pain, swelling, fever, a broken piece, or worsening symptoms; urgent medical warning signs require emergency care.
For the complete explanation, use Compare Cracked-Tooth and Craze-Line Signs.
Read the complete patient guide
This video is a short overview. The linked patient page contains the complete explanation, current details and practical next steps.
Read the video transcript
Is that line a harmless craze line or a cracked tooth? Craze lines are tiny, shallow marks limited to enamel. They are common in adult teeth and usually cause no pain. A deeper crack may cause sharp or inconsistent pain when chewing, sometimes when you release your bite, plus sensitivity to hot or cold. Appearance alone cannot show how deep a line goes, and some cracks are painless at first. Avoid chewing hard foods on that side and arrange a dental examination, especially if there is pain, swelling, fever, or a broken piece. Read the complete guide at the link on screen.