Can a Fractured Tooth Heal Itself? | Kildaire Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Have you ever fractured a bone and simply allowed it to heal itself before you felt good as new? We’ll explain if you can do the same thing with a fractured or cracked tooth, and when to know it’s time to see your dentist as soon as possible.

Causes of Tooth Fracture

You can fracture a tooth in a variety of ways, including:

Grinding while sleeping
Biting down on something hard, like candy, nuts, or ice
An accident or injury
Having large fillings
A rapid change in temperature (e.g. eating something very cold or very hot)
Aging

Signs of Tooth Fracture

Sometimes its hard to tell if you’ve fractured your tooth at all, but if you experiencing pain while chewing, increased sensitivity, random moments of pain that are not continuous, and swelling around the tooth and gum, you may have a tooth fracture.

Healing a Fractured Tooth

Not all fractures are created equally. Sometimes, you may have fractures so small that they’re pretty undetectable and have no accompanying symptoms along with them. They may not heal themselves, but require no further action to heal either. As for more serious fractures, your tooth will not be able to heal or mend itself. But don’t worry, there are a few treatment options that your dentist may suggest to you depending on your fracture, including:

Bonding, which involves your dentist filling in the crack with a material like resin
A dental crown, which is a porcelain or ceramic cap that goes over your tooth
A root canal, especially if you have an area of serious decay around the tooth and an infected root
A tooth extraction if the tooth and nerves are severely damaged

In any case, it is very important to see your dentist right away if you suspect that you have a fractured tooth in order to prevent infection and the need for more aggressive (and expensive) treatment options.

Experiencing a dental emergency or just need a check-up? Visit us at Kildaire Family & Cosmetic Dentistry and our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to assist you. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!