Treatment depends on how badly the tooth is broken. If it’s a minor chip, it can be conservatively smoothed or bonded with a filling. However, larger cracks require a crown to protect the tooth and restore its ideal shape and size. If a large crack extends into the center of the tooth, affecting the nerve, then a root canal is also needed. In worst-case scenarios, if a tooth is broken so badly that it can’t be restored, then it needs to be removed.