Regardless of the severity, a cracked tooth requires immediate professional treatment. While minor cracks may only need treatment options like dental bonding, tooth extraction is necessary for severely damaged teeth. However, an endodontist can consider various options that other professionals may not offer. An endodontist usually treats cracked teeth that are too damaged for minor treatment but can still be saved and restored.
An endodontist is a dental specialist who treats problems inside the tooth with the dental pulp and surrounding tissues. Their main goal is to save a patient's natural tooth if possible. This means they are unlikely to ever pull a tooth but will instead try to restore it through some type of endodontic therapy, like a root canal.
An endodontist can help treat oral health issues, including:
In these situations, the crack starts at the top of the tooth and extends downward below the gum line. This crack does not split the tooth entirely in half but does impact a significant part of the tooth structure, including the pulp in the center of the tooth.
A fractured cusp is when a significant piece of the tooth's chewing surface breaks off. If the pulp is exposed, a provider will likely recommend endodontic treatment.
This type of crack begins at the tooth root and extends upward. A vertical root fracture usually requires tooth extraction, but an endodontist can still save the tooth in some cases.
Endodontists are generally not in the business of extracting teeth. They will employ one of the following treatments to save the cracked tooth if possible.
This well-known endodontic treatment can often successfully remedy cracks extending below the gum line and fracture cusps where the tooth pulp is exposed. The process typically involved the endodontist removing the pulp from inside the tooth and disinfecting the inside of the tooth to prevent infection. Next, the provider fills the tooth with a biocompatible material such as gutta percha and fills the tooth. In many cases, the patient will return for a second appointment where a dentist or endodontist will place a crown over the root canal-treated tooth to reinforce it and restore its form and functions.
Though vertical root fractures almost always result in tooth extraction, there are cases in which an endodontist can save the tooth through a surgical procedure. If the crack only impacts a portion of the root's tip, an endodontist may perform an apicectomy, also known as root end surgery. During this procedure, the endodontist removes the apex or tip of the tooth root and seals the root canal. An apicectomy is often performed along with a root canal to save the remaining portion of the tooth.
Dealing with a serious cracked tooth is a stressful situation, but it is a problem that has a solution. {{DBA}} offers endodontic therapy to help save teeth compromised by trauma or decay. Call our team today to learn how an endodontist can help repair cracked teeth.
Request an appointment here: https://www.sheats-endo.com or call Sheats Endodontic Group at (615) 526-2495 for an appointment in our Nashville office.
An endodontist is the right dentist to see when you have tooth pain. This person focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infections. A root canal is the most common procedure that endodontists perform to repair and save teeth. It is helpful to understand the background of these dentists. Their training helps them to…
In many cases, root canal recovery is even simpler than the procedure itself. Patients who are nervous about their upcoming procedure have nothing to fear, as they will be able to return to their normal lives afterward. A root canal is an essential procedure that entails saving a patient’s tooth and keeping it functional over…
A broken tooth is typically something that you will want to have addressed immediately. While not every break in a tooth is considered an emergency, most of the time, it is ideal to take action as soon as possible. The type of break in the tooth will likely determine the necessary action. However, in order…
Endodontics is derived from the Greek words "endos" which means within, and "odont," meaning tooth. This dental discipline centers on the study and treatment of the tooth pulp as well as tissues around the root of the teeth. The most common treatment in endodontics is root canal treatment, which is often associated with pain. However,…
An endodontist is the right dentist to see when you have tooth pain. This person focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infections. A root canal is the most common procedure that endodontists perform to repair and save teeth. It is helpful to understand the background of these dentists. Their training helps them to…
In many cases, root canal recovery is even simpler than the procedure itself. Patients who are nervous about their upcoming procedure have nothing to fear, as they will be able to return to their normal lives afterward. A root canal is an essential procedure that entails saving a patient’s tooth and keeping it functional over…