Dental Injuries (cont.)
What is a tooth fracture?
Tooth fractures can range from minor (involving chipping of
the outer
tooth layers called enamel and dentin) to severe (involving
vertical,
diagonal or horizontal fractures of the root). Enamel and
dentin are the
two outer protective layers of the tooth. The enamel is the
outermost
white hard surface. The dentin is a yellow layer lying just
beneath the
enamel. Enamel and dentin both serve to protect the inner
living tooth
tissue called the pulp. The visible 1/3 of the tooth is called
the crown,
while the remaining 2/3 of the tooth buried in the bone is
called the
root. Dental x-rays are necessary in most instances to
diagnose, locate,
and measure the extent of tooth fracture.
What is a serious tooth fracture?
A serious fracture that exposes both the dentin and the pulp
tissue
should be treated promptly. The tooth may be displaced and
loose, and the
gums may bleed. To prevent the loose tooth from falling out
completely,
the dentist can splint the loose tooth by bonding it to the
adjacent teeth
to help stabilize it while the underlying bone and gums heal.
Because of
the high risk of pulp death, a root canal procedure is commonly
performed
during the first visit. Alternatively, the dentist may elect to
only apply
a anesthetizing dressing on the splinted tooth. The tooth will
then be
reevaluated in 2-4 weeks for root canal procedure followed by a
dental
filling or crown. The splint is also removed at that time.
The most serious injuries involve vertical, diagonal or
horizontal
fractures of the tooth roots. In most instances, fracture of
the tooth
root leaves the injured tooth very loose, thus necessitating
tooth
extraction. The extracted tooth is replaced with a removable
plate
containing a false tooth. Rarely, certain teeth with horizontal
fractures
near the tip of the root may not need extraction. However, root
canal
treatment for the injured tooth may be required in the future
if symptoms
of pulp death and tooth infection appear. Therefore, periodic x-
rays of
the fractured tooth are performed.
Next: What about a chipped tooth? »
- Root Canal - Read about root canal complications, pain, costs and symptoms and signs that a root canal is needed. The dental procedure is a treatment used to save an infected tooth.
- Toothache - Complete explanation of toothache causes including - dental cavities, dental abscess, gum disease, irritation of the tooth root, cracked tooth syndrome, temporomandibular disease, impaction, eruption, as well as diseases. of the heart, sinuses, and ears.
- Dental Crowns - Get information about types of dental crowns (permanent, temporary, porcelain), problems (cap falls out, pain, broken or loose crown) and procedure cost.
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