If our skin and bones can heal on their own, you might wonder why our teeth can’t do the same. In this article, you can discover whether your cracked tooth will heal on its own and why you should visit your dentist when you crack your tooth.
Can your cracked tooth heal on its own?
Our teeth can grow in the gums, but they cannot renew and heal themselves. This is why your dentist provides the best possible solutions to preserve your natural teeth.
The pearly whiteness of your teeth is with you from the moment you are born, and nothing can compare to the quality of your natural teeth. The inability of our teeth to regrow or regenerate has a lot to do with their composition.
Our teeth develop in the womb of our mothers during the sixth week of pregnancy. Contrary to popular belief, our teeth are not bones. Tooth enamel is made of calcium phosphate. It is often thought of as bone because it needs calcium to be strong and healthy.
Our teeth are composed of enamel, dentin, cementum and dental pulp. Tooth enamel serves as the strongest part of our body that can handle a few pounds of bite force. It protects the blood vessels and tissues responsible for supplying the calcium in the dental pulp.
However, tooth enamel is not composed of living tissues and blood vessels. Therefore, unlike our bones, it cannot renew and heal itself.
What is a cracked tooth?
A broken tooth is the result of a bad bite or injury. Damage can expose the inner layers of your tooth and open it up to disease-causing bacteria. In the worst case, cracks can reach the root of the tooth and cause tooth loss.
Causes and symptoms of a cracked tooth
A cracked tooth can be caused by excessive pressure on tooth enamel. Other causes include:
.Using your teeth as a tool
.A bad bite
.Injury or trauma
.Too much pressure on the tooth due to teeth grinding
.Sudden change in temperature, such as drinking cold and hot drinks
.Weak teeth due to old age
Most patients only realize their teeth are cracked when they experience any of the following symptoms:
.Tooth sensitive to cold or hot drinks or food
.Pain when biting or chewing food
.Pulling pain and swelling of the gums
Treatments
Dental treatment for a cracked tooth depends on the extent of the damage. Your dentist will check to see if the crack is mild or has reached a significant part of the root of the tooth. Dental treatments for certain types of cracked teeth include:
Filling or bonding: If your tooth has only minor cracks or broken crusts on the chewing surface, your dentist may still be able to save your tooth. A tooth-colored resin will be placed on your teeth to seal the enamel and prevent bacteria from affecting the pulp.
Root canal: If the crack reaches the root of the tooth, your tooth may be beyond repair. Tooth extraction is an option, but if you want to preserve your natural tooth, your dentist may recommend a root canal. In a root canal procedure, the damaged tooth root is removed and replaced with a filling to prevent further infection.
Crowns: When cracks in the tooth weaken the enamel, your dentist will recommend a dental crown to protect your weak tooth and restore your ability to chew or grind your food. Crowns can help you use your tooth as if it had never been damaged before.
