Can a Reabsorbed tooth be saved?
Through some effort on your part, and tremendous involvement from your dental care team teeth can be saved from resorption. However this depends on your commitment and how quickly you go see your dentist at signs of dental health problems. You need to attend your cleanings and examinations and get yourself checked out early in the process, this will increase your chances of saving tooth material. Dentist’s are not in the business of breaking teeth; they went to school to save them–trust them.
Tooth Resorption
Tooth resorption refers to the process of the body identifying foreign materials and attacking them or removing them from the ecosystem. Sometimes this involves breaking down tissues and absorbing them. In the case of dental resorption, small cavities within the tooth begin sapping healthy tissue, like dentin, from the tooth structure in an attempt to save them from trauma, disease, or infection.
Types of Resorption
Internal Resorption- This occurs when the tissues begin to sap from the inside out, and can be seen through x rays or 3d scans. A small pocket within the tooth is breaking down tissues around it, and drawing in tissues that surround. A noticeable external sign is a reddish or pink hue on the tooth or teeth. This can lead to a hollow tooth.
External Resorption- External resorption usually goes hand in hand with internal resorption, and can be characterized by structural or cosmetic damage to the tooth. External resorption is often the result of forced rapid movement of the tooth, like braces or invisalign, and can lead to shifting teeth syndrome.
How to save teeth
Begin by seeing the dentist. There is an office filled with a professional care team, and odds are they are nearby. Once you have made an appointment, take time to ask questions and voice concerns. This will help prepare you and the team for what to expect. Attend your appointment, get a thorough cleaning and examination, and request fresh x rays. These x rays can be used to diagnose tooth resorption specifically, and any other dental decay or health concerns present.
Treatment
Once Resorption is identified as the culprit, your Dentist or care team may recommend one or several different options.
Root Canal- A root canal is a vital process for saving teeth. If the resorption pocket is identified early enough, a small procedure can be performed wherein the vast majority of unhealthy tissue is removed from inside the tooth itself. This pocket is then filled to reduce the chance of infectious material growing and attacking healthy tissues again.
Tissue Removal- Much in the same way, Dentists can also attack a smaller section of tissue through removal, in order to allow the healthy supporting tissues of your teeth to regrow and dominate the competition.
Tooth Replacement- In some cases the original tooth cannot be saved. Due to severe infection or disease, some teeth will have to go. Once they are removed the tissues are healed though, you can investigate replacement options that are just as good–if not better–than the original tooth.