How Endodontists Repair Cracked Teeth

Regardless of the severity, a cracked tooth requires immediate professional treatment. While minor cracks may only need treatment options like dental bonding, tooth extraction is necessary for severely damaged teeth. However, an endodontist can consider various options that other professionals may not offer. An endodontist usually treats cracked teeth that are too damaged for minor treatment but can still be saved and restored.

Role of the Endodontist

An endodontist is a dental specialist who treats problems inside the tooth with the dental pulp and surrounding tissues. Their main goal is to save a patient's natural tooth if possible. This means they are unlikely to ever pull a tooth but will instead try to restore it through some type of endodontic therapy, like a root canal.

Types of cracked teeth that endodontists treat

An endodontist can help treat oral health issues, including:

Cracked extending to the root

In these situations, the crack starts at the top of the tooth and extends downward below the gum line. This crack does not split the tooth entirely in half but does impact a significant part of the tooth structure, including the pulp in the center of the tooth.

Fractured cusp

A fractured cusp is when a significant piece of the tooth's chewing surface breaks off. If the pulp is exposed, a provider will likely recommend endodontic treatment.

Vertical root fracture

This type of crack begins at the tooth root and extends upward. A vertical root fracture usually requires tooth extraction, but an endodontist can still save the tooth in some cases.

Endodontic treatments for cracked teeth

Endodontists are generally not in the business of extracting teeth. They will employ one of the following treatments to save the cracked tooth if possible.

Root canal

This well-known endodontic treatment can often successfully remedy cracks extending below the gum line and fracture cusps where the tooth pulp is exposed. The process typically involved the endodontist removing the pulp from inside the tooth and disinfecting the inside of the tooth to prevent infection. Next, the provider fills the tooth with a biocompatible material such as gutta percha and fills the tooth. In many cases, the patient will return for a second appointment where a dentist or endodontist will place a crown over the root canal-treated tooth to reinforce it and restore its form and functions.

Apicectomy

Though vertical root fractures almost always result in tooth extraction, there are cases in which an endodontist can save the tooth through a surgical procedure. If the crack only impacts a portion of the root's tip, an endodontist may perform an apicectomy, also known as root end surgery. During this procedure, the endodontist removes the apex or tip of the tooth root and seals the root canal. An apicectomy is often performed along with a root canal to save the remaining portion of the tooth.

Endodontists can save cracked teeth

Dealing with a serious cracked tooth is a stressful situation, but it is a problem that has a solution. Santa Rosa Endodontics offers endodontic therapy to help save teeth compromised by trauma or decay. Call our team today to learn how an endodontist can help repair cracked teeth.

Request an appointment here: https://santarosaendodontics.com or call Santa Rosa Endodontics at (707) 409-1177 for an appointment in our Ukiah office.

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