How Serious is a Fractured Root?
Although we take care of our oral health, problems that are beyond our control can often occur. Accidents happen, it is inevitable, even if we take all the necessary measures and precautions. With that, you should be aware of when these emergencies occur, in order to know how to solve the problem in the best way. If you suspect you have a broken tooth root, it is very important that you visit your dentist right away, as they will have the tools, including X-rays, to diagnose and treat your problem.
A broken tooth at the root, for example, can have serious consequences for your health and quality of life, causing pain that can bother you considerably. In addition to pain, a broken root can make a tooth more susceptible to infection, which can cause tooth abscesses and eventual tooth loss or extraction.
What are the likely causes of a broken tooth at the root?
There are several situations that can generate a broken tooth at the root and that you should be aware of:
- trauma (blows, accidents, falls) that impact the root. This is very common in cases of car accidents, sports accidents, falls from heights, etc.;
- teeth that have already undergone root canal treatment may be more susceptible to the problem;
- largely restored teeth may also be more susceptible to the problem;
- accidentally biting into hard foods (e.g. popcorn kernels) can cause root fissures;
- presence of cavities, which weaken teeth when left untreated and can cause more risk of fractures in the region;
- orthodontic problems that weaken the bone structure (such as poor positioning of the tooth in the dental arch).
As you can see, some of them are preventable, such as taking care to avoid cavities and orthodontic treatments to realign teeth. However, others are unpredictable and can happen through accidents. So, be aware of what are the main symptoms that show such a problem.
How to identify that there was a break in the root?
When a tooth breaks at the root, it can bring some characteristic symptoms that you should be aware of:
- bleeding around the gum on the impacted tooth;
- abnormal tooth mobility (you feel it moves more than it did before);
- the tooth seems to be more "grown" or out of the gum, looking more elongated;
- when you touch the tooth, you feel pain;
- there is swelling and fluid retention at the site (periodontal pocket and periodontal abscess).
It's also important to know that if you identify that a tooth has broken, avoid trying to put it in place!
Thus, the chances of sequelae that make it impossible for the tooth to recover without problems are avoided. This also prevents you from taking bacteria to the open tooth region and generating an infectious process, much more delicate to resolve.
The most recommended thing, in these cases, is that you immediately go to a trusted professional to carry out the intervention as soon as possible and apply the necessary dressing. If this is not possible, look for an emergency room to perform the first visit, until you can go to your dentist's office.