A cracked or chipped tooth can happen in seconds — biting down on something hard, taking a hit during sports, or waking up to discover overnight grinding has fractured a tooth. Whatever the cause, the damage doesn’t fix itself. Even a small chip can expose sensitive dentin, invite decay, and compromise the structural integrity of the tooth if left unaddressed. At Ocean Breeze Prosthodontics, cracked and chipped tooth repair in Boynton Beach is handled by Dr. Nicholas Goetz — a fellowship-trained maxillofacial prosthodontist and one of approximately 150 in the United States.
That level of specialty matters for a cracked tooth. General dentists can handle minor chips, but cracks that extend toward the root, fractures in teeth with existing restorations, and damage in patients with complex bite histories require the kind of structural analysis that prosthodontic training is built around. Dr. Goetz uses CBCT imaging to assess crack depth and extent before recommending treatment — not a visual exam alone.
Not all tooth damage is treated the same way. A small chip on a front tooth looks different from a vertical crack extending toward the root, and the treatment for each is completely different. Getting the diagnosis right matters as much as the repair itself — the wrong treatment for the wrong crack type can fail quickly or leave the underlying problem unresolved.
Common crack and chip types include: surface chips affecting enamel only (often repairable with bonding in a single visit); craze lines — hairline surface cracks that rarely require treatment but should be monitored; fractured cusps where a piece of the chewing surface breaks away; cracks extending vertically from the chewing surface toward the root (potentially requiring a crown or root canal before a crown); and split or fully fractured teeth where extraction may become necessary if the crack has reached below the gumline. Dr. Goetz evaluates crack depth and extent using CBCT imaging before recommending any course of treatment.
The right repair depends on the severity, location, and depth of the damage. Dr. Goetz evaluates each case individually before recommending treatment — not every crack needs a crown, and not every chip can be fixed with bonding alone.
Tooth damage doesn’t stay static — cracks propagate, chips expose enamel to decay, and infections spread. Every week a damaged tooth goes unrepaired, the treatment required typically becomes more complex and more costly. Prompt evaluation is always in your best interest.
A crack that reaches halfway through the tooth today can extend to the root next month. Each time you bite down on a cracked tooth, the fracture is stressed. Treating it early — when a crown can stabilize it — avoids the scenario where the crack progresses past the point of repair and extraction becomes unavoidable.
A chipped tooth creates a rough, irregular surface that traps bacteria and plaque more easily than smooth enamel. Chips that expose dentin — the softer layer beneath enamel — are especially vulnerable to decay. Repairing the chip promptly with bonding or a veneer seals the surface and removes that vulnerability before decay gets established.
A damaged tooth that is avoided during chewing shifts bite force to the teeth on the other side — causing uneven wear and increased stress on those teeth over time. Treating the damage restores balanced chewing function and protects the rest of the mouth from the compensatory strain that builds up when one area is consistently avoided.
Sensitivity when biting or temperature changes often signals that a crack or chip has exposed the dentin layer — or worse, that the pulp is at risk. Pain that temporarily subsides is not the tooth healing; it often means the nerve is becoming less responsive as damage progresses. Don’t interpret reduced pain as the problem resolving on its own — have it evaluated promptly.
Dr. Nicholas Goetz completed a Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Fellowship at UCLA and served as a civilian maxillofacial prosthodontist for the U.S. Army and the VA Medical Hospital — settings where complex oral trauma and fracture rehabilitation were routine clinical work. He is one of approximately 150 maxillofacial prosthodontists in the United States, and the structural depth of his training is precisely what makes Ocean Breeze Prosthodontics the right place for cracked and chipped tooth cases that go beyond a simple bonding repair.
Dr. Goetz examines the damaged tooth and takes digital X-rays or a CBCT scan to assess crack depth and any involvement of the pulp or root. Understanding the full extent of the damage before recommending treatment is what determines whether a simple bonding repair is sufficient or whether a crown, root canal, or other intervention is needed.
Dr. Goetz explains the diagnosis and all treatment options before any procedure begins. Minor chips can often be repaired with bonding in a single visit. Cases requiring a crown involve a preparation appointment, a temporary crown, and a seat appointment 1 to 2 weeks later. Cases requiring root canal treatment are sequenced so the tooth is stabilized before the crown is placed.
The final restoration — whether bonding, veneer, or crown — is placed and verified against bite contact, shade match, and margin fit before you leave. Most bonding repairs are completed in a single visit. Crown placements leave you with a full restoration at the seat appointment, with bite and fit confirmed before cementation.
For patients who grind their teeth at night — a common cause of hairline cracks and chip damage — Dr. Goetz discusses a custom night guard after the repair is complete. Protecting the restored tooth from the same forces that caused the original damage is part of a complete treatment plan, not an afterthought. Regular checkups allow Dr. Goetz to monitor the repaired tooth and surrounding teeth for any signs of new damage or wear.
We prioritize same-day scheduling for patients dealing with painful or acutely damaged teeth. Ocean Breeze Prosthodontics offers flexible financing through CareCredit, Cherry, and Alpheon so the cost of treatment never becomes a barrier to getting the care you need. While we are not in-network with insurance companies, we file claims on your behalf and help you maximize any reimbursement your PPO plan allows for restorative procedures.
Browse real results from restorative and repair cases performed at Ocean Breeze Prosthodontics in Boynton Beach.
No. Teeth cannot repair themselves. A crack may become less symptomatic temporarily if the nerve becomes less reactive, but the structural damage remains and typically worsens over time. Waiting to treat a cracked tooth almost always results in more extensive — and more expensive — treatment than addressing it early.
Signs that a crack may have reached the pulp include: spontaneous pain without biting, pain that lingers after releasing bite pressure, sensitivity to temperature that lasts more than a few seconds, and swelling near the tooth. Dr. Goetz evaluates this with CBCT imaging and pulp testing — you don’t need to guess. If root canal treatment is needed, it is performed before the crown is placed.
For minor chips on front teeth with no underlying structural damage, dental bonding is typically the fastest repair — completed in a single visit. Bonding is sculpted and hardened chairside with no impressions or lab time required. More involved chips or cracks may require a veneer or crown, which involves a preparation appointment and a seat appointment 1 to 2 weeks later.
The cost depends on the severity of the damage and the treatment required. A bonding repair is significantly less expensive than a crown, and a crown is less expensive than a root canal plus crown. Dr. Goetz provides a clear cost breakdown at your consultation before any treatment begins. Flexible financing through CareCredit, Cherry, and Alpheon is available for larger treatment plans.
Coverage varies by plan and by the treatment required. Most PPO plans offer partial coverage for restorative procedures like crowns, while bonding for purely cosmetic chips may not be covered. While we are not in-network, we file claims on your behalf and help you maximize whatever reimbursement your plan allows. Our team reviews your benefits before treatment begins so there are no surprises.
A cracked or chipped tooth needs to be evaluated quickly — not because every case is an emergency, but because the treatment options narrow as damage progresses. Dr. Nicholas Goetz, a fellowship-trained maxillofacial prosthodontist and one of approximately 150 in the United States, brings CBCT imaging, prosthodontic planning depth, and same-day scheduling to every cracked and chipped tooth case at Ocean Breeze Prosthodontics in Boynton Beach.
Don’t wait for a small problem to become a bigger one. Schedule your evaluation today by completing our contact form or calling our Boynton Beach office at (561) 265-1998.
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