How Serious Is a Fractured Root?
Are you experiencing pain or discomfort in your tooth? Do you have swelling in your gums? Maybe you are more sensitive to temperature than usual? If this is the case, it’s important to visit your dentist to determine the root cause. In some cases, it may be a fractured root.
Below is more information about root fractures, how serious they are, and treatment options for a root fracture.
What is a Fractured Root?
A root fracture is a fracture that involves a tooth cracking below the gum line and across the root of a tooth. This is often caused by trauma to the root of the tooth due to injury but can also be a result of biting too hard or other factors.
What Are the Types of Root Fractures?
Root fractures can occur in multiple ways. Some common forms of root fractures include:
- Fractures below the gums
- Split-tooth fractures
- Vertical root fractures
How Serious Is a Fractured Root?
A root fracture is considered a serious dental emergency. Not only are root fractures uncomfortable, but they can cause serious oral health problems if they are not addressed. It’s important to address a root fracture as soon as possible and may involve a trip to an emergency dentist.
Keep in mind, if you don’t receive treatment for the fracture soon enough, your dentist may be forced to perform a tooth extraction to stop an infection from spreading.
Causes of a Fractured Root
Root fractures can occur for a variety of reasons. Some of these include when:
- The tooth is damaged by blunt force trauma, which can include a sports-related injury, car accident, etc.
- Big fillings weaken the integrity of the structure of the tooth
- Teeth are used to open packages
- Abrupt temperature changes happen within the mouth
Fractured Root Treatment
Generally, your dentist will perform root canal treatment to address a root fracture. Root canal treatment removes infected tooth tissue, which is necessary to stop the spread of infection. Once the repair has been completed, your dentist may decide to place a dental crown. A dental crown is a prosthetic that replaces the crown of a patient’s tooth.
By getting to the dentist in a timely fashion, your dentist will likely be able to save the tooth. If it is left untreated for too long or if the damage is too severe, though, your dentist may only be left with one option—extraction. With that said, extraction is a last resort, and your dentist will do everything they can to avoid an extraction.
Reach Out Today
If you believe your tooth root has been fractured or you are otherwise experiencing pain in your mouth, reach out today for an appointment. A top dentist will take a look at the tooth to determine the cause of the discomfort and will provide the appropriate treatment to address the issue.