New Patients Are Welcome!
What are the Common Dental Root Fractures?
There are three main types of dental root fractures:
Vertical Root Fracture: This type of fracture occurs when a crack in the tooth extends vertically from the chewing surface down to the root. It is often caused by trauma, such as a blow to the face or a fall, or as a result of extensive dental treatment. You can't detect it quickly due to no visible signs or symptoms. It can cause pain and swelling, leading to infection and tooth loss.
Horizontal Root Fracture: It occurs when a crack runs horizontally across the tooth's root, typically due to a traumatic injury. The location of the fracture can determine the severity of the damage, and the fracture can be classified as "cervical" (near the gum line) or "apical" (closer to the tip of the root). Symptoms include pain, swelling, and mobility of the tooth.
Oblique Root Fracture: It is a diagonal crack in a tooth's root, typically resulting from a traumatic injury. X-rays do not always detect this fracture, but you may experience pain, swelling, and infection.