Teeth can break for various reasons, usually tooth fracture occurs in children or young people who practice some risky sports. In children the affectation of dental trauma is approximately 30% with milk dentition, the figure decreases in the permanent dentition to 22%.
In the practice of risk sports, such as boxing or rugby, at Smile Care Plymouth, we recommend the use of mouth guards. This type of protector is specialized for the practice of sports and its purpose is to avoid preventing oral injuries, in which a dental fracture is included.
What should I do if a tooth is broken?
In the event of a tooth fracture, it is of special interest to go to the dental clinic to prevent major injuries and obtain a good prognosis. The treatment of dental fractures can vary depending on several factors such as the time that has passed, the tooth involved or the type of dental fracture.
Once the dental consultation is attended, a clinical history of the patient is made with all the data of interest, the patient is explored in detail, emphasizing the affected area. Some complementary tests such as X-rays are usually carried out to see the involvement of the root, or dental vitality tests to know how the dental pulp is. In children it is important to observe and take X-rays to be able to see if the germ of the definitive tooth has been affected or not.
Dental fractures can be classified in various ways in the event of trauma, such as the location of the fracture. Thus, the fractures can only affect the enamel, the fracture can be larger involving the entire crown with or without involvement of the dental pulp. In more advanced situations, there are root or crown-root fractures. Finally, a dislocation or avulsion of the tooth can occur.
Once the fracture is diagnosed and the type of treatment for it varies depending on age and dentition, temporary or permanent. The treatment to be carried out can vary from a simple polishing of the enamel or a reconstruction of the affected tooth to a root canal of the affected tooth and a subsequent placement of a dental inlay or a crown, or in more serious cases in which the tooth is compromised, the extraction it may be the treatment of choice.
When the enamel is affected, small fissures or invoices may appear in it. To treat this affectation, the treatment consists of polishing the affected enamel surface and in this way being able to regularize the cutting edges.
If the fracture does not only affect the enamel but also the dentin is involved in the coronal part but the pulp is not affected, the treatment of choice is to perform a filling or reconstruction of the tooth (depositing the amount of affected tissue) with resin composed by adhesive techniques. Sometimes, in these types of fractures, the pulp of the tooth is affected with increased sensitivity or negative vitality, so in most of these cases the indicated treatment is to perform a root canal with a subsequent restoration to protect the tooth. , either with the placement of an inlay or a dental crown.
In the deciduous dentition, if there is a pulp exposure in coronal dental fractures, conservative treatment can vary from a pulpotomy (removal of the pulp chamber of the tooth) or a pulpectomy (removal of the entire dental pulp).
Dental fractures in which both the crown and the root of the tooth are affected, depending on the degree of affectation, a crown lengthening can be performed to expose the base of the fracture and reconstruct the tooth or if the dental involvement is very apical, the extraction of the affected tooth is the most favorable indication for treatment.
Occasionally, dislocations or avulsions of the teeth may occur. Dental dislocations are injuries that can affect the dental pulp and the periodontal ligament. Avulsions refer to the complete separation of the tooth from its socket. The prognosis and treatment of this type of affectation can vary depending on many factors, some of the treatment may be Braceing the tooth once it has been placed in its socket or tooth extraction and prosthetically rehabilitating tooth loss.
In more severe cases, a fracture of the alveolar process may appear. The treatment of these affectations is more complex and requires an assessment and intervention by a specialist in surgery or maxillofacial.
It is of special interest that after carrying out the most indicated treatment for each type of dental fracture, you go to the control appointments that the dentist has scheduled. Regular visits are usually made especially in the first three months after the dental fracture. In these controls, clinical and radiological examinations are carried out in order to evaluate the prognosis of the tooth, its vitality and observe the evolution of the affected area.
