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How Does Root Canal Treatment Help In Hairline Fracture Of Molar Tooth?

Posted on Fri, 12 Dec 2014

Question: Greetings, Dr. Hegde. I wrote you a couple of years ago about a long-time hairline fracture in a molar. It always has times when it is more or less sensitive. Lately it has become more sensitive if I bite directly on it. I don't look forward to a root canal procedure, but if the fracture is worsening, then how would doing a root canal help, since the tooth remains with its hairline fracture whether it reaches the root or not? Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (8 days later)

Brief Answer:
Investigation xray

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Thanks for consulting Healthcare magic .
This is Dr. Priyanka tiwari answering your query .

Read your query as you have hairline fracture in your molar tooth and your tooth is sensitive now there is nothing to be worried so much I will suggest you to consult oral surgeon and go for Investigation (Intraoral periapical radiograph ) of fractured molar tooth then if your xray reveals fracture extending pulp of tooth then you consult your oral surgeon and discuss treatment .

Treatment done in facture tooth is restoration of tooth if fracture involves dentin region of tooth and If fracture line extending to pulp region then Root canal treatment can be done . See what happend is in root canal treatment -Pulp of tooth is taken out then biomechanical preperation of tooth is done after Obturation is done to seal the root of tooth . Then functional prothesis (capping) of tooth is done.

Hope I have answered your query.
If you have further query I will be happy to help

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (6 hours later)

Thank you for your advice. I have had this hairline fracture for many years, and the discomfort is only when I bite on it directly with a relatively hard piece of food. My regular dentist says it is difficult to know how far it goes or if it will worsen, unless I develop worse symptoms. Is it likely to worsen, and is there a risk of penetration of bacteria? At what point should I have had it repaired already in the past? Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
IOPA x-ray of fractured tooth

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX ,

Welcome again

Read your query Yes it is difficult to know condition of tooth clinicaly in hairline fracture condition but I will suggest you to consult oral surgeon and go for INTRA ORAL PERIAPICAL RADIOGRAPH ( XRAY )of fracture tooth to know the extention of facture .
Now as you have pain in tooth on chewing food this show infection might present at apical region of root at this stage treatment can be done is root canal treatment after evaluation of radiograph .
As you are asking for early treatment restoration can be done if there is no pain in tooth in past .

Hope I have answered your query.
If you have further query I will be happy to help,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (2 hours later)

Thank you Dr. Tiwari. When I accidentally bite down on something a little hard, I have sensitivity not really pain per se, and it has been more or less the same over the years. So that would indicate that the fracture has not reached any root yet, and the fracture itself could be repaired or could remain as it is until it may worsen?

Answered by Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Need concern

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX ,

Welcome again

Read your query as you have senstivity on chewing little hard see what happened is
When we clincally examine the tooth we check tenderness in tooth by vertical taping and horizontal taping on tooth if there is slight tenderness (pain) that means infection is present in apical region of tooth or in ligaments which tooth is supported .
As you have senstivity in facture molar tooth that means there might be infection at apex of root so for this you should be concern and consult good oral surgeon for its treatment . Fracture doesnt repaired by itself you should go for its treatment as early as possible .

Thanks.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj