Kumho Station Dental Clinic: When Implant Treatment is Needed After a Fractured (Cracked) Tooth Treatment

Hello.

This is Dr. Kim Tae-young, the head director of Barunyoung Dental Clinic at Kumho Station, who personally explains cases.^^

Today, I'd like to discuss the case of a patient who received treatment for a severely cracked tooth in the past and visited us again after a long time.

I want to try treating my cracked tooth again without extracting it.

Considering the dietary habits of Koreans,

our teeth are very susceptible to wear and fracture.

Chewy meats, squid, crunchy cartilage, kimchi, seasoned vegetables, etc.,

are foods that can cause cracked teeth or wear.

So, often, elderly people come in saying their teeth are cracked,

but upon examination, it's often the case that the tooth is fractured.

I feel uncomfortable, like something is stuck after eating hard food.

When the patient first visited us,

looking at the initial X-ray, all teeth responsible for chewing,

except for the upper left, were covered with implants or prosthetics.

Looking at the intraoral photos,

the remaining teeth show significant flattening and cracks due to strong chewing forces,

and the crown of the first premolar is broken.

Tooth with a crack progressing inwards after removing the fractured fragment

Upon removing the fractured fragment,

the fracture line had progressed deep into the gum line.

Considering the degree of wear on the surrounding teeth,

there was a very high possibility that the crack had extended to the tooth root,

meaning the prognosis would not be good even with treatment.

Therefore, we recommended extraction,

but the patient, although aware of the poor condition,

wished to try treatment first and see if it could be maintained a bit longer.

These photos show the completion of root canal treatment and subsequently

the finished crown.

When a fracture extends deep into the root within the gum,

the crown margin is formed deep within the gum,

making it susceptible to secondary decay or infection in the future.

Therefore, the prognosis is generally poor.

For this reason, considering the worn surrounding teeth,

we paid utmost attention to the crown fabrication.

Since the surrounding natural teeth are undergoing severe wear,

it is necessary to periodically adjust the occlusion

of the relatively hard crown to distribute the occlusal forces.

While receiving management, the patient moved from the Kumho Station area,

and visited us again after almost two years.

Something fell off, I'm not sure if it's the treated part.

The existing teeth had further wear,

and the treated tooth, along with the reinforcing post for retention,

had fractured, which is how the patient presented.

A CT scan was taken to check inside the tooth root,

and it indeed appeared that the crack had progressed to the root at the time of the initial fracture,

leading to inflammation in the surrounding bone.

For those who experience such severe tooth wear,

maintaining and using the tooth for nearly two years in this condition

shows they took great care,

but now the tooth could no longer be maintained,

and extraction followed by an implant was necessary.

Since the patient understood the condition of the tooth from the beginning of the treatment,

we decided to proceed with immediate implant placement after extraction.

Immediate implant surgery with bone grafting after extraction

Since there was significant bone loss below the root,

the surgery was performed while confirming the correct placement direction,

and bone grafting was simultaneously performed around the implant

to restore the lost surrounding bone.

Simply extracting that one tooth and

placing an implant might not be the fundamental solution.

It is necessary to perform prosthetic treatment with crowns on the already severely worn natural teeth

to balance and stabilize the occlusion, and to minimize stress on the teeth,

thereby preventing fracture and wear as much as possible.

Only then can the implant also harmonize and be used for a long time.

For those with strong chewing forces,

adjunctive treatments like Botox or mouthguards can also be helpful.^^

For these reasons, Barunyoung Dental Clinic always

emphasizes regular check-ups after treatment

and explains to patients that coming in periodically

is as important as the treatment itself.

Today, we took time to learn about situations that can arise

after treating cracked teeth.

If you have similar concerns about cracked teeth at Kumho Station Dental Clinic

or are curious about the treatment direction for multiple cracked teeth,

please visit us for a detailed consultation.

Thank you!^^

Treatment start: 2023.11.15

Treatment end: 2024.02.28

▼ Related cases worth reading together ▼

We approach all patients who visit us with the heart of treating family. We aim to be a trustworthy dental clinic where all those who visit with worries can leave feeling reassured. That is the dental clinic I aspire to be. - Barunyoung Dental Clinic

Directions: JYJ Building, 2nd floor, 179 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. Right in front of Exit 6 of Yaksu Station (Yaksu Market direction). Use village bus No. 5 (Yaksu Station), village bus No. 12 (Namsan Town, Yaksu Police Station), or bus stops (Yaksu Heights, Sindang Social Welfare Center, Gaon Library, Kumho Tunnel Entrance). From Yuyu Pharmaceutical towards Kumho Station.

This post was written directly by Barunyoung Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information and hospital advertising (in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act). The photos are taken from the same patient, and treatment methods and other side effects (pain, prosthetic detachment) may vary for each patient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do cracked teeth always need to be extracted?

No, not always. Initially, attempts can be made to save the tooth with root canal treatment and a crown. However, if the fracture progresses deep into the gum or extends to the root, the prognosis may be poor, and extraction might be recommended.

When is an implant needed after cracked tooth treatment?

An implant may be necessary when a crack progresses to the tooth root, causing inflammation in the surrounding bone, or when a fracture recurs after initial treatment, making it impossible to maintain the tooth any longer.

Is tooth care important even after an implant?

Yes, it is very important. To prevent wear on the natural teeth around the implant, it's crucial to stabilize the occlusion with crown prosthetic treatment and to combine it with auxiliary treatments like Botox or mouthguards to prevent excessive stress on the teeth.

How do chewy or hard foods affect dental health?

Chewy or hard foods make teeth very susceptible to wear and fracture. Squid, crunchy cartilage, and tough meats are typical examples, and such dietary habits can lead to cracked or fractured teeth.

Can bone grafting be performed simultaneously with implant surgery?

Yes, it is possible. If there is significant bone loss below the root after tooth extraction, bone grafting can be performed simultaneously with implant placement to restore the lost surrounding bone.

What treatments are helpful for severe tooth wear?

In cases of severe tooth wear, it is important to stabilize the occlusion and prevent excessive stress on the teeth by performing prosthetic treatment with crowns on the surrounding natural teeth. Additionally, auxiliary treatments like Botox or mouthguards can also be helpful.