Braces as an adult? No way. At least, that was what I thought when my dentist told me that I was going to have to see an orthodontist about my crooked teeth. But my teeth were so misaligned that they were causing me pain when I chewed, so I decided to at least look into it. Turns out braces today are nothing like the ones my friends had when I was a kid. Mine were practically invisible, and I didn't need to wear them that long. I started this blog to encourage other people like me who are nervous about the prospect of wearing braces as an adult. My straight smile is so worth the trips to the orthodontist, and wearing braces was nowhere near as bad as I thought. Read on to find out more about how you can straighten your smile.
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Root canals are not a lot of fun. This is why your dentist is only going to suggest the treatment if you absolutely need it. Root canals are completed when your tooth is infected or when the internal tissues are damaged. The treatment may also be necessary to prevent a future infection if a crown needs to be cemented into place. While root canals are necessary, complications can arise. The fracturing of the dental root is one such complication that your dentist will try to avoid. Keep reading to understand the problem and also how it may be avoided.
How Does A Tooth Root Fracture?
During a root canal, your dentist will need to clean your tooth and remove the pulp as well as bacteria. Complete removal is necessary to keep pulp from decaying once the tooth is capped off with a filing or a crown. If pulp is left behind, the root canal treatment will need to be repeated. Infections can develop and spread as well.
The most common place for tooth pulp to be left behind is in the very tip of the dental root. Dental roots are extremely narrow and long. Some roots curve as well and prevent your dentist from cleaning the apex properly. When difficulties arise, your dentist will use increasingly smaller and smaller file tools to get to the very tip of the root. In many cases, the professional will also need to widen the root a bit.
Widening and filing creates a great deal of pressure and stress, and the root can crack or completely fracture.
How Are Fractures Repaired?
Root canals allow your dentist to remove all of the living tissues from your tooth. These tissues include the nerves, so your tooth will not longer feel pain and soreness. This means that you may not know that the tooth root has been fractured. If the fracture is horizontal and produces no symptoms, then your dentist will likely see the tooth crack on a future x-ray. Treatment may not be necessary, but your dentist will examine the area for signs of problems during your regular dental checkups.
If a vertical crack forms, then this is a much more serious problem. If the crack is noted before it spreads upward, then the root can be surgically removed. Removal will occur through the gums and the jaw. If the crack spreads and appears above the gum line, then extraction is often necessary. Extractions are sometimes arranged if a large portion of the root has cracked as well.
The good news is that horizontal breaks are much more common than vertical ones when root canals are completed. This means that you are likely to retain your natural tooth, even if a root injury occurs.
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