Common treatment options
If you elect to be treated, there is often more than one way to proceed.
Adjusting the bite on the tooth ("occlusal adjustments") can sometimes provide partial relief of the problem.
The dentist may recommend anti-inflammatory medication to patients who can safely take them. Monitoring the status of the tooth to rule out a developing abscess is the usual protocol for bruised tooth ligaments. This involves follow-up as needed with the patient, exposure of a preliminary X-ray image when the problem is reported, and possible additional X-ray images at dentist-determined intervals afterwards. Endodontic treatment may become necessary if symptoms don’t resolve.
Common related diagnoses
This diagnosis may be part of a larger problem and treating the condition may not treat the underlying cause. This condition may also lead to other problems.
Bruising of a tooth’s periodontal ligament can be caused by self-inflicted injuries to the tooth, or external trauma. Chewing on hard objects like tongue barbells is one example of a "factitious habit" that can lead to concussion injuries. A concussion injury can produce similar symptoms to a cracked tooth, and may lead to pulp death ("necrotic tooth"). If the teeth are misaligned or crooked ("malocclusion"), one or a few teeth may be at higher risk of sustaining a concussion injury.
