Yaksu Implant: What Causes Sudden Pain When Chewing?

Hello.

I'm Kim Tae-young, the head director of Yaksu Dental / Bareunyoung Dental Clinic.^^

Today, we'll explore the causes of sudden pain when chewing, specifically concerning Yaksu implants.

You might have experienced a strange pain in your molars when chewing, or a feeling of less power, while eating as usual.

In such cases, the main causes can be broadly attributed to:

1. Temporary pain due to strong occlusal forces
2. Periodontal disease
3. Tooth fracture

In cases 1 and 2, the discomfort is temporary and either resolves over time or alleviates as the gums recover with periodontal treatment.

Today's case study will examine the symptoms that appear when a tooth, often in patients with strong chewing forces, receives excessive force over a long period, leading to a root fracture.

‘I can only eat on one side, but for the past few days, it's been very painful every time I chew.’

The patient's left molars had been extracted and missing for several years, and they were primarily eating with their right premolars.

Premolars are meant to serve a secondary function in chewing, but due to the loss of molars, this patient had to exert significant chewing force on them.

The arrow points to a dark line, indicating a crack in the root, which was clearly visible on the X-ray.

It was even clearer in the detailed smaller image, and when a crack in the tooth is visible on an X-ray, it means the situation has progressed to the point of needing extraction.

‘It hasn't been painful for long. Can't the crack be fixed with treatment?’

Unfortunately, for a tooth with a root fracture that causes pain, even a crown treatment (which only covers the crown of the tooth) will not eliminate the pain. Therefore, extraction is the only treatment option...

Multiple instances of tooth wear and cracks were also found in other areas of the patient's teeth.

First, extraction and implant surgery were performed on the most uncomfortable area.

‘Other areas are also bad, but I want to address the most urgent one first.’

These are post-surgery photos after extraction and implant placement in the missing tooth area.

Looking at the extracted tooth, you can see that it was split.

The patient is a middle-aged man with very strong chewing forces, and it appears that the loss of one molar caused all the force to be concentrated on the remaining teeth, leading to the fracture.

Since the bone density in the area where the tooth had been missing for a long time was low, we completed root canal treatment and prosthetic treatment for the symptomatic teeth with severe wear during the waiting period for sufficient healing.

Implant Prosthesis Completion and Occlusal Force Distribution

The patient must have been uncomfortable for several months, but they greatly assisted in improving their eating habits.

For patients with very strong chewing forces, even with a sturdy implant, balanced occlusal force distribution between natural teeth and implants is essential for long-term maintenance.

All the empty molar spaces have been restored.

Although there was a tooth requiring extraction due to a crack, the patient wanted to observe it since the symptoms were not severe. However, since symptoms can sequentially begin once normal chewing activity resumes, we decided to proceed with careful regular check-ups in the future.

Root fractures in teeth are a common occurrence in dental practice, especially among middle-aged and older individuals with strong chewing forces, particularly men.

This is because Korean dietary habits often include many hard and chewy ingredients, making teeth vulnerable to breakage.

In such cases, combining botox treatment can reduce the load of force, but many people consider botox a cosmetic treatment, so it often isn't pursued as a therapeutic option.^^;

Today, we looked into the causes of pain when strong chewing forces are involved.

If you're curious about Yaksu implants, please visit us for a detailed consultation.

Thank you.^^

Treatment Start: 2023.09.04

Treatment End: 2024.03.06

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We believe that proper treatment leads to proper results.
My goal is to create a trustworthy dental clinic where everyone who visits with worries can leave feeling relieved.
- Bareunyoung Dental Clinic

Directions
2nd Floor, JYJ Building, 179 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu
Right in front of Exit 6 of Yaksu Station, towards Yaksu Market
Village Bus 5 (Yaksu Station)
Village Bus 12 (Namsan Town, Yaksu Police Station)
Bus Stop (Yaksu Heights, Sindang Social Welfare Center, Gaon Library, Kumho Tunnel Entrance)
From Yuyu Pharmaceutical towards Kumho Station

This post was written directly by Bareunyoung Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information and hospital advertising (in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main causes of sudden pain when chewing?

The main causes of sudden pain when chewing can be broadly attributed to three factors: temporary pain due to strong occlusal forces, periodontal disease, and tooth fracture. Among these, a tooth fracture that extends to the root may necessitate extraction.

Can a tooth root fracture be resolved with treatment?

Unfortunately, if a tooth root fracture has progressed to the point of causing pain, a crown treatment (which only covers the crown of the tooth) will not eliminate the pain. Therefore, extraction is the only treatment option.

Can strong chewing forces cause problems even after an implant?

Yes, it can. For patients with very strong chewing forces, even with a sturdy implant, a balanced distribution of occlusal force between natural teeth and implants is crucial for long-term maintenance.

Are there ways to prevent tooth fractures caused by strong chewing forces?

To prevent tooth fractures caused by strong chewing forces, combining botox treatment can help reduce the load of force. However, the article mentions that botox is often misunderstood as a cosmetic treatment and thus not pursued as a therapeutic option.

How long does implant treatment take after tooth extraction due to fracture?

In the case study presented, the treatment started on September 4, 2023, and ended on March 6, 2024, taking approximately 6 months. This period includes bone density recovery after extraction and prosthetic treatment.