Most Common Root Fractures in Teeth
A root fracture refers to a crack or break in a tooth that extends down toward the root of the tooth. There are several different probable causes of a dental root fracture. Identifying the cause and the type of root fracture is important to determine the best treatment available will be chosen.
What are The Causes of Dental Root Fractures
The causes of a dental root fracture can be as simple as a nasty fall, or an accidental blow to the mouth during a sporting activity, teeth grinding, poor oral hygiene, and more. The specific cause will determine the correct treatment.
Identifying the Different Layers of a Tooth
There are different layers of each tooth. Understanding the layers helps recognize dental root fractures. Simply stated, the three primary layers of a tooth are:
- Enamel-The tough protective outer shell of the crown, only above the gumline.
- Dentin- The second layer.
- Dental pulp- The living tissue center, including nerves and blood vessels.
Enamel is the visible part of the tooth, covering just the crown. The enamel is extraordinarily strong, but it can still be vulnerable to damage from either poor oral hygiene or dental trauma. The dentin is the second underlying layer beneath the visible enamel. Finally, the pulp is at the center of each tooth and is full of nerves and blood vessels.
What are Some Causes of Dental Root Fractures
The most frequent and common cause of a root fracture is sudden trauma. This can happen from an unfortunate fall, during a sporting event or an untimely accident, and in many other ways. Take precautions, when possible, to reduce the risk of a dental root fracture. For example, wear a mouth guard for sports, or for teeth grinding.
The Different Types of Root Fractures
One of the first things your dentist will identify is what type of root fracture you have, because each type is treated in a unique way. Some of the more common types of fractures are:
- Oblique supragingival fracture
- Oblique subgingival fracture
- Vertical furcation fracture
- Vertical root fracture
- Vertical apical root fracture
To determine the type and severity of your fracture, your dentist will take x-rays and conduct an oral examination to identify the specific type of fracture.
How does Your Dentist Treat a Root Fracture
Your treatment options for a root fracture will depend on the severity of the fracture. For more serious fractures that have damaged the pulp, they most likely will recommend root canal therapy. This quite common procedure involves removing all the living, sensitive pulp of the tooth and filling the pulp chamber with a rubbery substance. A crown is usually placed to preserve the strength and appearance of the natural tooth.
In a worst-case scenario, extraction may be required.
The Long-Term Outlook for a Root Fracture
The goal of the dental industry is to always save a natural tooth from being lost, and your dentist will most often do just that. The successful results of a root canal and other similar procedures can last for years.
Schedule a Consultation with Your Dentist Today
If you think you could have a tooth root fracture, schedule your appointment soon. Your dental team will help you restore the health of any damaged teeth and then monitor the long-term health of your teeth and gums.