Fractured Root: Symptoms and Treatments
A fractured tooth root can be very painful and should be treated as soon as possible! It is often hard to diagnose, even with x-rays, since the root is below the gum line. A fractured root can result from chewing on very hard foods, grinding your teeth (bruxism), or tooth decay. A fracture will not resolve itself so professional treatment is the only way to resolve the issue and prevent it from getting worse.
How do I know if I have a fractured root?
It may not always be evident that you have a fractured root since symptoms often come and go throughout the day unless the root becomes infected. Since patients do not necessarily experience constant pain with a root fracture, they may not even realize that they have it to seek treatment in a timely manner. A couple of symptoms that may indicate a root fracture include:
* Sharp pain when eating which may come and go during the day
* Extreme sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages
Pain from a fractured root can be excruciating though not all fractures will present symptoms. Any pain in your body is a sign that something is wrong so even if you are experiencing mild discomfort that comes and goes, it is better to have it checked out instead of waiting for it to get worse. The same is true in dentistry.
How is a fractured root fixed?
Just because your root fractures, it does not necessarily mean that you will have to have the tooth extracted but it is important to keep in mind that leaving a fractured root untreated can lead to further damage of the tooth structure, at which point more extreme treatment measures may be required. The most common treatments for a fractured root are root canal therapy and extraction.
Root Canal Therapy
A root canal is not the painful treatment of the past and is an ideal treatment option with a high success rate of enabling patients to keep a tooth that might otherwise be extracted. A root canal removes the tooth of all of the nerves and tissue within the tooth and keeps the patient from feeling any pain in the affected tooth. Even though a root canal typically treats an infected tooth, removing the nerves within the tooth can allow the patient to keep their tooth for a few more years even if the root is fractured.
Extraction
Though not always necessary, removing the tooth altogether is probably the most common treatment once a root has fractured. Sometimes, a periodontist or oral surgeon may be able to remove only the affected section of the root by sectioning the root from the side within the gum tissue. If you have the tooth extracted, you may be a candidate for a dental implant to restore the area.
Professional treatment is the only way to fix the problem of a fractured tooth root. If you need a root canal, your dentist will refer you to an endodontist. In the event that you need to have the tooth extracted altogether, they will send you to an oral surgeon for treatment.