Dental fracture: 9 types of fractures, symptoms and treatments
Dental fracture often requires immediate treatment to save the affected tooth. In order not to reach further complications and expensive treatments, the fractured tooth must be quickly subjected to dental treatments specific to the type of fracture.
Find out in this article how to recognize the other 9 types of dental fractures depending on your symptoms and appearance, what treatments are needed to fix the problem and how Dr. Nassar's clinic can help you when you have suffered such a trauma.
1. DENTAL CRACK
It is an incomplete fracture in the enamel, without loss of dental structure.
symptoms
Usually, the dental fissure is asymptomatic, unaccompanied by pain.
TREATMENT
In general, no treatment is applied, but it is recommended:
- periodic sanitizations, accompanied by fluoride protection
- long-term monitoring
TREATMENT COSTS AND NUMBER OF SESSIONS
Minimum costs, recommendations can be resolved in one sitting.
POST-TRAUMA EFFECTS
In most cases, no change occurs. If pain or discoloration occurs, it is recommended:
- pulpectomy and coronary obturation or
- fixed prosthetic restoration (nerve removal and filling or ceramic veneer).
2. FRACTURE IN ENAMEL
It is a complete fracture, with loss of dental hard substance (enamel), without dentin exposure.
symptoms
Usually, at the tooth fracture in the enamel, pain is present as a symptom. The tooth has normal mobility, the sensitivity of the tooth is positive.
TREATMENT
- If the fractured tooth fragment is recovered, it can be glued back to the tooth.
- In case of small fractures, the sharp edges that can cut the tongue will be able to be polished minimally invasively and polished or will be blocked with composite (filling).
TREATMENT COSTS AND NUMBER OF SESSIONS
Minimal costs, tooth fracture in enamel is resolved in a single session with or without anesthesia, then long-term monitoring.
POST-TRAUMA EFFECTS
In most cases, no change occurs. If pain or discoloration occurs, recommend:
- pulpectomy and coronary obturation or
- fixed prosthetic restoration (nerve removal and filling or ceramic veneer).
3. FRACTURE IN ENAMEL AND DENTINE
It is a dental fracture with loss of an important dental fragment, but without the exposure of the tooth pulp.
symptoms
With tooth fracture in enamel and dentin, the symptoms of pain do not exist. The tooth has normal mobility, the sensitivity of the tooth is positive.
TREATMENT
- If the fractured tooth fragment is recovered, it can be glued back to the tooth.
- If the fracture is near the pulp, glassionomer cement or calcium hydroxide can be applied and composite filling (filling).
TREATMENT COSTS AND NUMBER OF SESSIONS
Costs of composite filling (+/- glassionomer or calcium hydroxide). It will be done with or without anesthesia, depending on the sensitivity, in a single session, then monitoring.
POST-TRAUMA EFFECTS
In most cases, no change occurs. If pain or discoloration occurs, recommend:
- pulpectomy and coronary obturation or
- fixed prosthetic restoration (nerve removal and filling or ceramic veneer).
4. FRACTURE IN THE ENAMEL AND DENTINE WITH THE EXPOSURE OF THE PULP
It is a dental fracture that involves all the coronary structures of the tooth, with the exposure of the pulp in the oral cavity.
symptoms
Apart from the fact that the tooth is obviously broken, the symptoms of tooth fracture in the enamel and dentin with the exposure of the pulp do not necessarily include pain, but rather sensitivity. The tooth has normal mobility, and vitality is tested with thermal stimuli.
TREATMENT
You may try to remove the coronary pulp or calcium hydroxide treatment.
- If the opening of the thigh is too large, nerve excision and canal obturation are performed.
- If the fractured tooth fragment is recovered, it can be glued back to the tooth. Otherwise, grind and cover the tooth with a ceramic crown.
TREATMENT COSTS AND NUMBER OF SESSIONS
The costs are related to the method of treatment chosen by the dentist depending on the clinical appearance, it will be resolved in several treatment sessions, usually under anesthesia.
POST-TRAUMA EFFECTS
If removal of the coronary pulp or treatment with calcium hydroxide will not have the expected result, proceed to:
- pulpectomy (nerve removal)
- canal obturation
- ceramic crown coating
5. NON-PENETRATING CORONO-RADICULAR FRACTURE, WITHOUT LEG EXPOSURE
It is a fracture of the hard dental structures and a portion of the root of the tooth, without exposing the tooth pulp.
symptoms
In this type of dental fracture, the tooth is sensitive to pressure, and the segment of the fractured tooth is mobile.
TREATMENT
In an emergency, one can try to stabilize the mobile fragment of adjacent teeth. The treatment can be complex, involving any of the variants:
- removing the fragment and restoring the tooth in a dry environment above the gum level
- gingivectomy (+/- ostectomy with osteoplasty) or orthodontic extrusion with endodontic treatment and pivot with ceramic crown.
- extraction and implant with ceramic crown
TREATMENT COSTS AND NUMBER OF SESSIONS
The costs are complex depending on the clinical appearance and the method of treatment chosen by the dentist and accepted by the patient, will be solved in several sessions, under anesthesia.
POST-TRAUMA EFFECTS
The result differs depending on the method of treatment, from the success and absence of subsequent symptoms to the loss of the tooth.
6. PENETRATING CORONO-RADICULAR FRACTURE, WITH EXPOSURE OF THE PULP
It is a dental fracture of the hard structures and a portion of the root of the tooth, with the exposure of the pulp of the tooth in the oral cavity.
symptoms
The symptom of this tooth fracture is that the tooth is sensitive to pressure.
TREATMENT
In an emergency, one can try to stabilize the mobile fragment of adjacent teeth. The treatment can be complex, involving any of the variants:
- fragment removal and gingivectomy (+/- ostectomy with osteoplasty) with endodontic treatment
- pivot and crown or orthodontic extrusion with endodontic treatment and pivot with ceramic crown
- tooth extraction with preservation of half of the root and implant with ceramic crown
TREATMENT COSTS AND NUMBER OF SESSIONS
The costs are complex depending on the clinical appearance and the method of treatment chosen by the dentist and accepted by the patient, will be solved in several sessions, under anesthesia.
POST-TRAUMA EFFECTS
The result differs depending on the method of treatment, from the success and absence of subsequent symptoms to the loss of the tooth.
7. RADICULAR FRACTURE
The fractured tooth may be mobile and positioned abnormally.
symptoms
The root tooth fracture is easily recognizable. The fractured tooth has symptoms of pressure sensitivity and is usually accompanied by gingival bleeding. A transient color change to red or gray of the tooth may occur.
TREATMENT
Is recommended:
- Repositioning the tooth as fast as possible and check it radiologically
- Immobilization of the tooth between 4 and 16 weeks depending on the fracture, with pulp monitoring
- If signs of necrosis appear, nerve removal and canal obturation will be made to the fracture line.
TREATMENT COSTS AND NUMBER OF SESSIONS
Costs differ depending on the type of fracture, they are usually small, but require careful and lengthy monitoring.
POST-TRAUMA EFFECTS
In the absence of treatment, tooth extraction can occur.
8. ALVEOLAR FRACTURE
It is a fracture that occurs in the bone in the vicinity of the tooth or teeth involved in the trauma.
symptoms
In this type of dental fracture, the patient will have as a symptom the appearance of the mobility of the fractured segment together with the teeth caught in the focus. A change in the position of the teeth will be noticed.
TREATMENT
The treatment involves repositioning the fracture segment and immobilizing the teeth for 4 weeks. The torn gum is sutured (cut).
TREATMENT COSTS AND NUMBER OF SESSIONS
The costs are not high, they require only minimal intervention and long-term monitoring.
POST-TRAUMA EFFECTS
Endodontic therapy (nerve removal) with canal obturation can be reached in case the teeth are symptomatic. Sometimes, it is necessary to extract the teeth and place implants with bone addition.
9. DENTAL AVULSIA
The absence of the tooth on the arch is noticed, if the patient's tooth has not been replanted. The integrity of the tooth will be checked if the patient has recovered the tooth.
TREATMENT
The treatment depends on the time elapsed from the avulsion to the intervention of the doctor. You can try replanting and immobilizing the tooth in the office or implant and dental crown.
TREATMENT COSTS AND NUMBER OF SESSIONS
Costs and meetings vary depending on the situation.
POST-TRAUMA EFFECTS
If the transplant is not successful, it will be switched to either orthodontic or implant-prosthetic treatment, depending on the case.
Have you recently suffered a dental fracture?
In order not to lose a fractured tooth, a dental consultation as soon as possible is indicated.
Now go live with one of Dr. Nassar's doctors. During the online consultation, the doctor will explain to you what treatment should be followed immediately for your emergency.
