Yaksuyeok Dental Clinic: Is Root Canal Treatment Always Necessary for Cracked Teeth? (Crown Treatment Before Implants, MTA)

Hello.

I am Dr. Kim Tae-young, director of Bareunyoung Dental Clinic at Yaksuyeok.^^

When I consult with many patients,

once their pain is resolved,

they often refer acquaintances with similar symptoms

as new patients.

Recently, many patients have been curious about treatment methods for cracked teeth.

There are people who worry about cracked teeth.

Will a cracked tooth immediately cause problems?

How can cracked teeth be treated effectively?

The conclusion is that not all cracked teeth always require treatment.

However, the extent of the crack varies even in the same patient,

making it difficult to define simply.

All adults have cracks in their teeth.

After using teeth for decades without replacement,

fine cracks naturally appear, and for those with strong chewing forces,

cracks can progress and cause symptoms.

Generally,

since it's realistically impossible to crown all cracked teeth,

if the crack's progression is minor

or there are no significant symptoms, we usually recommend monitoring it.

Here are the cases where treatment is necessary:

When a cracked tooth is brokenWhen discomfort occurs with every biteWhen the cracked area is judged to be wide and deepWhen secondary decay occurs below the cracked area

Today's case involves

a patient with multiple cracks found in a tooth

and even tooth fracture observed.

As seen in the X-ray,

the rearmost tooth was broken, and the surrounding periodontal ligament

was hypertrophied.

In the oral cavity, multiple cracks were observed not only in the lower part

but also in the opposing area.

Tooth fracture and

secondary decay had progressed below the cracked area

that extended left and right.

Since the clinical symptoms were not severe,

root canal treatment was initially deferred,

and we decided to monitor it with a temporary crown.

Before crowning a cracked tooth,

depending on the presence or absence of symptoms,

root canal treatment or, in severe cases, extraction may be considered.

Nowadays, there is a nerve-protecting material called MTA,

and we can have expectations for this material as well.

During the removal of the cracked area and decay, a crack

was found extending deeper inside.

After removing these parts,

no symptoms appeared even with the temporary crown,

allowing us to complete the final restoration.

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So far, there have been no particular problems,

and the patient is under observation.

While crowning a cracked tooth does not completely stop

the progression of the crack,

it helps protect the tooth from trauma,

which certainly contributes to the tooth's lifespan.

Although there are slight cracks in other areas,

regular check-ups are necessary

to periodically evaluate the tooth's condition.

Today, we looked into cracked teeth.

I hope this was helpful to those who were curious.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all cracked teeth require treatment?

No, not all cracked teeth always require treatment. If the progression of the crack is minor or there are no significant symptoms, it is often monitored. However, the extent of the crack varies from patient to patient, so an accurate diagnosis is important.

In what cases do cracked teeth require treatment?

Treatment is necessary when a cracked tooth is broken, when discomfort occurs with every bite, when the cracked area is judged to be wide and deep, and when secondary decay occurs below the cracked area. If you have these symptoms, it is advisable to seek dental care.

Is root canal treatment always necessary for cracked teeth?

It is not always necessary. For cracked teeth, root canal treatment may be considered depending on the presence or absence of symptoms before crowning, and in severe cases, extraction may be considered. If symptoms are not severe, root canal treatment may be deferred, and the tooth can be monitored with a temporary crown.

How does crown treatment help cracked teeth?

Crown treatment helps protect the tooth from trauma, which certainly contributes to the tooth's lifespan. However, crowning does not completely stop the progression of the crack.

How is MTA used in cracked tooth treatment?

MTA is a nerve-protecting material that can be used to defer root canal treatment or protect the nerve during cracked tooth treatment. There have been cases where, after removing cracks found during the removal of the cracked area and decay, MTA was applied, and the final restoration was completed without symptoms.