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.
Can a badly cracked tooth be saved?
If the crack has extended into the pulp, the tooth can be treated with a root canal procedure and a crown to protect the crack from spreading. However, if the crack extends below the gum line, it is no longer treatable, and the tooth cannot be saved and will need to be extracted.
How do you diagnose cracked tooth syndrome?
A dentist often diagnoses a crack by observing a crack line, which is a line segment from the perimeter of a fracture plane, such that this line segment is also located on a tooth surface that a dentist can observe. Observation of the crack line does not necessarily indicate the fracture plane size and shape.
How can cracked tooth syndrome be prevented?
Don't chew on hard objects such as ice, unpopped popcorn kernels or pens. Don't clench or grind your teeth. If you clench or grind your teeth while you sleep, talk to your dentist about getting a retainer or other mouthguard to protect your teeth. Wear a mouthguard or protective mask when playing contact sports.
Does cracked tooth syndrome go away?
Treatment of cracked tooth syndrome is not always successful. Unfortunately, some people continue to have occasional symptoms after treatment and they may require the help of a specialist.12 Jun 2017
How do you fix a cracked tooth?
Dental Filling or Bonding If you have chipped off just a small piece of tooth enamel, your dentist may repair the damage with a filling. If the repair is to a front tooth or can be seen when you smile, your dentist will likely use a procedure called bonding, which uses a tooth-colored composite resin.13 Sept 2020
What happens if you don't fix a cracked tooth?
Without professional treatment, the broken tooth is susceptible to an infection that will only get worse over time. This infection can move to the neck and head, causing all sorts of health problems. While rare, it is possible for a chipped tooth to prove life-threatening.
How does a dentist diagnose a cracked tooth?
Diagnosing a cracked tooth Make a visual examination. Your doctor may need to use a magnifying lens to see tiny cracks. Feel for the crack. Your dentist may run a dental explorer over and around the tooth to see if it “catches” on an edge.