Having a fractured tooth is not as rare as you might think. Of course, some fractures are obvious. But, if you've had some sort of accident and you don't see a crack or break, but still feel pain, you may have a fracture. This guide explains what the types of tooth fractures are:
Oblique Supragingival Fracture
If you bite down too hard on something and feel persistent pain, your dentist will look for an oblique supragingival fracture. The pain associated with this fracture subsides when the fractured part of the tooth breaks off. However, because you have exposed dentin, you may still feel some pain. To repair your smile and to alleviate pain, expect your prosthodontist to insert a crown.
Vertical Apical Root Fracture
As the most painful tooth fracture, the vertical apical root fracture occurs at the tip of the root. Bone and tooth fragments put a lot of pressure on the bone after the event causing the fracture. This pressure causes the severe pain. The only relief is a root canal with a subsequent crown.
Oblique Subgingival Fracture
A crack that occurs below the gum line is a subgingival fracture. This fracture of the tooth can cause a great amount of pain until the dentist removes the broken tooth piece from under the gum. More often than not, the nerve is not affected, but the dentist will likely perform a root canal to fix the problem. After the root canal, the prosthodontist installs a crown.
The oblique subgingival fracture is tricky. Even if you have an accident, you may not experience any pain for several years. But when you do, it will most likely be severe.
Oblique Root Fracture
An oblique root fracture doesn't appear on the crown of your tooth at all. It is always below the gum and usually under the bone. Its proximity to the tooth crown is the determining factor concerning keeping your tooth.
If the fracture is near the crown of the tooth, expect to lose that tooth and have it replaced with a bridge, partial denture or crown, if the dentist can save enough of the tooth for the prosthodontist to attach the crown.
Ask your dentist about the best method to repair a tooth fracture. A root canal is not always needed, but if you are in any type of pain, then a crown may be to prevent further damage. Ask your prosthodontist if a bridge or partial denture is the way to go, if you cannot keep your tooth because of a fracture. To learn more, contact a company like BayView Dental Arts with any questions you have.
Share5 January 2015
The average dentist takes many client appointments each day and also deals with emergency situations on a regular basis. Dental emergencies are very common because people are likely to put off having tooth pain fixed until the pain becomes unbearable. Some people have anxiety about dental visits, and others are trying to avoid the expense of dental care. In either case, the end result is often a dental emergency. I have worked as a professional dental hygienist for many years and have seen all types of dental emergencies. I hope that this blog will help people identify potential emergencies before they become too serious and will allow people to know when to get help.
