Subscribe Feed (RSS)Taking proper care of one’s teeth is part of a person’s daily hygiene. Unfortunately, however strong one’s teeth may be, there is still the possibility that they may chip, fracture, or even break. Trauma is the commonly found cause for this. This may happen when one bites into something hard or when one accidentally gets hit in the face. These traumas may result to fractures. Each type of fracture has its own dental treatment. Minor fractures include minor cracks, chipped tooth, and cusp fractures. On the other hand, those that may need more than minor dental interventions include: serious fractures, cracked or split teeth, split root, and decay-induced fractures.
Minor cracks are also called craze lines. These are superficial, affecting only the enamel portion. Dentists may sand the area lightly to smoothen out rough areas, but this generally does not need any treatment. Chipping is when a small portion gets cut out. A chipped tooth is usually repaired using filling, especially if this occurred in the front where it would require a tooth-colored filling. Dentists also smoothen out the area to prevent further damage to the oral cavity. Lastly, cusp fractures are seen in the part of the teeth used for chewing, appropriately called cusps. These are rarely painful and may not affect the pulp of the teeth. However, a person’s normal chewing is affected. This will require either just filling or a crown. A crown, also called an onlay, commonly uses a metal or porcelain material to cover the exposed portion.
Serious fractures have exposed nerve tissues due to the fact that the fracture was too deep. These are usually characterized by bleeding from the broken portion. These may not be painful but will cause a certain level of sensitivity. It requires a root canal to take out the exposed root and a crown. A crack is when the fracture involving the chewing part to the root occurs. The two surfaces, though separated by the crack, does not necessarily come apart. The treatment needed depends on the severity of the crack. This may require both filling and crown if the damage is not too much. However, if the pulp is damaged, a root canal will also be required. A split occurs when the two portions of the cracked tooth gets separated. Two methods of treatment may be used by dentists. One, they may opt to remove only part of the root. In treatment, one undergoes a root canal first, then the roots will be removed using a minor surgical procedure, after which a crown will be fitted to cover the remaining portion. The second treatment, one that is usually done, is the removal of all the parts that were separated. A split root is when the cracks started from the root rather than the chewing part. This causes inflammation or infection to the tissues surrounding the area, which in turn results to pain. It needs to be removed immediately. Decay-induced fracture is the last on this long list. This causes fractures when a cavity has weakened the crown from the inside.
With any of these fractures, it is best to consult with a dentist immediately after noticing the damage. Even a chipped tooth could lead to more damage if not treated accordingly.
