Fractured Root: Symptoms and Treatments
A fractured tooth root is difficult to quickly diagnose since it is not visible. Common causes can be chewing on hard foods, grinding your teeth at night, or from aging. A fractured tooth root does not mean that the crack will appear above the gum line. You may find a fractured tooth root quite disturbing, especially when encountering cold or warm items.
A fracture does not always mean that the tooth needs to be removed. Sometimes a cracked root can result in damage which will require extraction or a root canal. Your procedure for a cracked tooth root might take a longer time to heal than expected.
If you feel that you may have a fractured tooth root, you should contact your dentist as soon as possible for an examination. A fracture in the tooth root will not repair itself.
Causes of a Fractured Tooth Root
A root fracture is commonly referred to as a vertical root fracture and it usually is a crack that appears on the tooth root below the gum line. Sometimes the fracture will spread up the tooth appearing above the gum line, which now increases the risk of a complete split. Below are a few causes of a fractured tooth root.
- Excessive pressure or trauma.
- A fractured root can be the result of multiple procedures that have weakened the integrity of the broken tooth and the fracture site.
- A fractured root relating to fragile teeth.
- Your age; a fractured tooth and root is often seen in the older population.
Root Symptoms of a Fractured Tooth
Not every fractured tooth will have symptoms, but when there are, you might encounter some pain. A fractured root usually displays intermittent symptoms which might lead you to believe that it is not severe, especially if the fracture is not visible. The most common symptoms include:
- An occasional sharp pain when chewing or biting.
- An increased sensitivity to hot and cold food and beverages.
Unless the tooth with the fracture becomes infected, the symptoms are limited. The unfortunate thing about a fractured tooth root is that because of the difficult diagnosis, you are unaware of its presence, and treatment is postponed until there is further damage to treat.
Treatment for a Fractured Tooth
The treatment of a fractured tooth root is limited. It will depend on how large the fracture is and when it was diagnosed.
- A Root Canal- A root canal is a compromise in saving your natural tooth. If the fracture is on the root and it has not spread up the tooth or completely damaged the root, then the root canal is a viable option. The tooth is numbed, the pulp removed from the tooth and then the chamber is filled with a rubber substance. Usually, a crown is added to protect the fragility of the tooth.
- Extraction- This is also a treatment method for a fractured root. This is the only other treatment that is offered, and many cases end up with an extraction. Once the tooth removal has been completed and the area has healed, there are several restoration solutions available to fill the space left behind from the missing tooth.