110 – Treating Fractured Root

Treating Fractured Root
Tooth fractures can happen for a variety of reasons: very hard foods, undue excessive force on the tooth, or even weakening of the tooth due to cavities. Generally, when the breakage occurs in the crown, the problem can be solved with a fixed prosthesis or a restoration. But what happens when the fracture occurs at the root of the tooth? Is extraction the only viable option?
What is a root fracture and what are its causes?
As the name suggests, a root fracture is a break in the tooth root. Also called root fracture, it can have several causes. According to dentist Max Ferreira, “cases of radicular fracture (in the root) are related to dental trauma”. In addition to this cause, they also contribute to root fractures: Among the most common are:
* Bruxism (the act of involuntarily grinding your teeth while sleeping);
* Chewing hard foods;
* Infiltrations caused by cavities;
* Improperly applied fixed prostheses;
* Root canal treatments.
There are different types of root fractures. Vertical fractures are the most risky, as they go from the root to the crown of the tooth, the outer tip that sticks out of the gums. There is also the case of a horizontally broken tooth root, when only a part of the root is broken. It is possible that the tooth does not break completely, this is the case with cracks, when there is only one crack in the tooth. This can be even more dangerous and painful, as it opens the tooth for bacteria to enter that can infect the tooth pulp. Due to the composition of the tooth root, which is thinner than the cementum that covers the crown, it is not possible to identify thirty in the roots.
What are the symptoms of a fractured tooth root?
Anyone who has a tooth with a broken root may experience pain when chewing, but that is not the only symptom. If there is an infection of the dental pulp, it is possible that an abscess may appear in the gums due to the accumulated pus. The tooth may also be mobile to the touch, swelling of the gums, pain when touching the region of the gum where the root is located, and detachment of the gum in the area close to the fracture.
How is a fractured root treated?
First, you need to diagnose the root fracture. “First, the dentist will diagnose the type of fracture, horizontal or vertical, as well as its scope”, explains Dr. Max Ferreira. Treatment will depend on the extent of the fracture, its position, and which tooth is affected. In the case of vertical fractures, it may be possible to use special cement to close the root fracture, preventing it from growing further. But if the fracture reaches the crown , the tooth will have to be removed.
Fractures in anterior teeth receive different treatments than posterior ones. In the first case, it is possible to try to immobilize the tooth with special threads wrapped in resin. This way, the tooth would recover, like a broken bone that is immobilized. In the case of horizontal fractures that affect the tip of the root, it is possible to remove the affected part. If the fracture is closer to the gum line, exposing the affected part and trying to restore it with resin is a viable option. For posterior teeth, as they have a greater number of roots, removing the affected root is a treatment option, leaving the others to support the tooth. This procedure needs to be very well planned and executed, as the chances of it going wrong are high.