How Serious is Fractured Root
A fractured tooth root can happen to anyone for any number of reasons! We all know that popcorn kernels are a tooth's worst enemy but a fracture can result from an injury, old dental fillings, dental decay, or even age. When a fracture happens below the gum line, it can be hard to identify and may not even present any symptoms that the patient notices. This is why regular visits to your dentist are so important! They are able to identify what is going on within your tooth and below the gum line with an evaluation and dental x-rays.
When a tooth suffers a root fracture, the pulp within the tooth roots are susceptible to bacteria and infection and an abscess can form. An abscess is a pus-filled sac near the root that is very painful and requires treatment as soon as possible before further damage is done to the tooth or your overall health.
Types of Root Fracture
There are actually a few different types of fracture that a root is subject to. Identifying the type of fracture will help your doctor determine the best treatment path to give you the best prognosis possible.
Oblique root fracture: Occurs below the gum like and into the jaw; extremely painful and requires endodontic treatment.
Vertical root fracture: When part of the root breaks off; often a result of a brittle root due to previous root canal or a root canal procedure gone wrong.
Vertical furcation fracture: When the tooth splits into two or more parts; extremely painful and may need to be extracted.
Vertical apical root fracture: When the tooth fractures straight down the middle into the root; again, extremely painful but may be treated with root canal therapy.
Some symptoms that you may experience in the event of a root fracture include temperature sensitivity, redness and swelling in the gum tissue at the affected area, pain when biting or chewing, pain that comes and goes. It is important to visit your dentist if you experience any pain in any of your teeth. Pain is how our bodies tell us that something is wrong and without immediate treatment, a fractured root can become infected and abscess.
An abscess can cause all sorts of other issues and if it gets into the bloodstream, can actually be life-threatening. Your dentist will identify any issues that are concerning you and either provide the appropriate treatment or point you in the right direction with a referral to the proper specialist. Your dentist wants you to keep your natural teeth as long as possible but things happen and teeth break! Maintain proper oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist to keep your mouth healthy!