The teeth can sustain physical damage due to accidental injury, particularly from mechanical impact or stress. This is known as dental trauma, and it can affect anyone, though the problem is more common in younger, active individuals. If you have this type of dental damage, you should consult your dentist for restoration. The common treatments include extraction of teeth, installation of a new crown and application of veneer. The specific recommended solution will depend on the extent of damage. Here are the different forms of tooth damage that you should understand.
Simple Crown Fracture
Simple crown fractures occur when the upper part of the tooth is damaged. In simple terms, the enamel will break, usually with some significant damage to the dentine. This type of uncomplicated fracture will cause some loss of the tooth structure, but there is usually no disturbance sustained by the pulp. If the tooth fragment is present or available, it can be bonded. However, an artificial crown can be installed to restore the aesthetics.
Complicated Crown Fracture
A complicated crown fracture differs from the aforementioned simple alternative in that the pulp is disturbed due to the damage. In general, if you have this type of crack, you will notice the loss of the upper hard material and the exposure of the pulp. Often, the affected pulp tissue might have to be removed through root canal or other similar technique. The dentist might also recommend pulp capping and restorative devices like dental crowns.
Enamel Infraction and Fracture
Enamel infractions occur when the tooth's enamel experiences an incomplete crack. This is normally limited to the external part of the teeth, and there is not loss of dental material. Typically, no treatment is required, but you should see a doctor to confirm that there are no anomalies in your tooth. If some of the enamel is missing, the damage is considered to be a fracture. In this case, restorative treatment might be required to repair the aesthetics of the teeth.
Root Fracture
If you have sustained a root fracture due to trauma, the pulp, dentine and other internal tooth structures will be damaged. Often, this type of injury will be apparent by the displacement or mobility of the crown. Root fractures are serious and might require extensive and long-term treatment. Normally, the dentist will use a splint to restore the tooth stability, and a root canal may be performed to eliminate damaged and infected tissue.
Dental injuries should be treated immediately to avoid escalation and improve the probability of complete restoration.
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