If our skin and bones can heal on their own, you might wonder why our teeth can’t. Read on to find out if your cracked teeth can heal on their own and why you should visit your dentist.
Our teeth can grow in the gums, but they cannot renew and heal themselves. This is why your dentist offers the best possible solutions to preserve your natural teeth.
Learn More About Your Teeth
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 up of calcium phosphate. It is often confused with bone, as 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 in the dental pulp responsible for providing calcium.
However, tooth enamel is not composed of living tissues and blood vessels. Therefore, it cannot renew and heal itself like our bones.
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 cases, cracks can reach the root of the tooth and cause tooth loss.
Causes and Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth
A cracked tooth may be due to excessive pressure on tooth enamel. Other reasons are:
.A bad bite
.Injury or trauma
.Too much pressure on the tooth due to teeth grinding
.Sudden changes 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, food
.Pain when biting or chewing food
.Pulling pain and swelling of the gums
Treatment
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. Here are dental treatments for certain types of broken teeth:
Filling or bonding: Your dentist can save your tooth if you only have small cracks or a broken crust on the chewing surface of your tooth. A tooth-colored resin will be placed on your teeth to seal the enamel and prevent bacteria from affecting the dental pulp.
Root canal treatment: If the crack reaches the root of the tooth, there is a possibility that your tooth is beyond repair. Tooth extraction is an option, but if you want to preserve your natural tooth, your dentist may recommend root canal treatment. 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.
