How long is the recovery after treating a broken tooth?

The recovery time for a broken tooth can be anywhere from 24 hours to, in rare cases, a lifetime of continued management. The length of recovery depends on the severity of the break and what type of treatment was required. If the repair was mainly cosmetic, you may simply be instructed not to chew on that tooth for a short period of time. If a root canal was done, you might need to take an over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen to reduce swelling and eat soft foods and liquids for a few days. In more serious cases where an extraction was done, you may be required to take a course of antibiotics and follow-up with your dentist for continued care.