Will a cracked tooth heal on its own?
Crown Mill Creek
Many people will experience a cracked tooth at some point in their lives. It can cause sensitivity or may even be painful. If you have a cracked tooth, can anything be done to fix it? Will it heal on its own, or is this something that you need to visit your dentist for?
What causes a cracked tooth?
The most common causes of a cracked tooth are either an impact to the face or jaw, or accidentally biting down on something hard (like a popcorn kernel). However, in some cases, we can’t pinpoint the cause of the crack. This can happen because when the enamel is weakened, then it may not take much to create a crack.
A number of factors can weaken tooth enamel. For example, chronic bruxism (grinding the teeth at night) can weaken the enamel and make a crack more likely. A tooth with a large filling will be weaker and more likely to experience a crack. Aging also tends to lead to thinning and weakening of tooth enamel.
What are the symptoms of a cracked tooth?
A cracked tooth may cause:
- Pain, especially when biting down on the tooth
- Sensitivity to heat, cold, and/or sugar
- Swelling of the gums around the area
What can be done to repair a cracked tooth?
A cracked tooth will not heal on its own. Unlike your bones, which have a lot of blood vessels and are therefore able to repair themselves, tooth enamel does not have any blood supply and is not able to repair itself when damaged. You cannot simply wait for the crack to heal on its own.
For very small cracks (which do not extend all the way through the enamel), treatment is not necessary. However, if the crack extends deeper, then it’s important to repair it, even if it doesn’t hurt. This is because a cracked tooth loses its protection from infection. Bacteria can travel through the crack down into the deeper parts of the tooth. An infection there could require a root canal, or you could even lose the tooth.
For smaller cracks, it may be possible to fill them. The same white composite resin that’s used for filling cavities can be used to fill the crack in the tooth. While this will seal the crack so that bacteria can’t travel through, the resin is not as strong as tooth enamel.
For more severe cracks, the tooth may need a crown to strengthen it. This involves removing some of the outer structure of the tooth, in order to make room for the crown. A porcelain shell is then placed around the tooth. This helps to keep the tooth strong, as porcelain is extremely durable.
Do you need a crown Mill Creek?
If you’re looking for a dentist who can perform a crown Mill Creek, Bothell, and the surrounding area, please contact our office to make an appointment with Dr. Mulliken. He offers crowns created with the CEREC system, which allows the restoration to be completed in just one office visit. This makes getting a crown very convenient. If you’d like to book your appointment, please contact our office.