Fractures are commonplace in the world of dentistry. Fractures or cracks occur in all ages, although they are more common in people over 25 years of age. They can be very painful, and difficult to diagnose, but sometimes easy to treat. There are several types of fractures, which we will look at below.
The first type of crack is known as an oblique supragingival fracture. This fracture is located above the gum and usually happens when you bite something too hard. Normally, this fracture does not involve the nerve. Once the broken area of the tooth breaks off, the pain goes away. Although exposed dentin may cause you some pain, you can visit the dentist and have it repaired. If the fracture is large, you may need to have a crown placed on the tooth to prevent further fractures in that tooth.
The second type of crack extends far below the gum line and is known as an oblique subgingival fracture. Once a broken piece of tooth breaks off, it normally remains attached to the gums and causes excruciating pain until it is removed. After removing a piece of a tooth from the gum, the tooth will look like a supragingival fracture. It does not normally affect the nerves, although due to the loss of the area of the tooth, you may need a root canal to clean the tooth before the crown is placed.
The severity of this fracture depends on how far it extends beyond the gum line. If it has gotten deep into the gum line, you may not be able to save the tooth. A fissure may be present for many years before you experience any pain. To be on the safe side, you should go to your dentist for regular checkups, as they can check for cracks and other problems.
An oblique root fracture follows although it does not involve the crown of the tooth at all. This type of fracture is almost always located below the gum line, usually under the bone. If a root fracture is found near the crown of a tooth, it usually proves fatal. Sometimes you can save a tooth with a root canal, although it is normally lost later due to an abscess of the bone surrounding the fracture.
The last type of fracture is the most difficult to deal with. Vertical apical root fractures occur at the tip of the root and can cause you severe to intense pain even after your nerve has been removed through a root canal. Although the nerve may not be present, vertical fractures of the apical root cause great pain that occurs in the tooth.
Vertical apical fractures usually cause you more pain than any other type of fracture. The resulting pain comes from the debris putting pressure on the bone, causing stress on the broken pieces. The only way to get relief from this type of fracture is to get a root canal as this will relieve the pain and get the dead pulp out of the tooth that is affected by the fracture.
Even though fractures are very common and very painful, you should never put off visiting the dentist. Fractures can become more serious if left untreated, which is why you should never hesitate to go to the dentist. Your dentist will be able to diagnose the problem and fix it before it has a chance to get worse.
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