Dangsan-dong Dental Clinic: A Front Tooth Fracture May Require Crown Lengthening

Hello, this is Kim Min-young, a specialist in Conservative Dentistry at Dangsan-dong Dental Clinic.

"Bang"

When going about daily life, such as in a traffic accident or a fall,

unexpected strong impact can occur.

In such cases, injuries such as wounds or broken bones can happen.

If a strong force is applied to a tooth,

the internal tissue may be damaged, or

a front tooth may fracture.

I have prepared information related to "tooth fracture," a problem that can occur due to trauma.

A strong impact transmitted from outside can cause cracks or breaks in front teeth or molars.

Not only traffic accidents or falls,

but also excessive force while eating,

or repeated unnecessary force over time

can cause problems.

If it has led to a fracture,

it is important to make an accurate diagnosis and check how far the damage has progressed.

The outermost layer visible to our eyes,

the enamel, is relatively hard.

However, since the inner layer is relatively soft,

it is easier to sustain damage.

In addition, if it comes close to the nerve inside,

or if the outer and inner layers are lost and exposed,

sensitive symptoms or pain can appear,

and infection can develop, leading to inflammation.

The treatment method differs depending on how far it has been affected,

so an accurate diagnosis must be made first.

Today, I will explain what treatment is needed when the crown, that is, the tooth cap, has completely broken off. Dangsan-dong Dental Clinic Oral Information Front Tooth Crown Fracture

If you look at the photo, the crown portion of the upper right front tooth

has completely broken off.

It is difficult to assess the condition simply by looking with the naked eye or by touching it with an instrument to evaluate the response.

That is why internal conditions are checked using materials such as panoramic X-rays or CBCT.

If you look at the photo prepared by Dangsan-dong Dental Clinic,

you can see that the inner nerve has been exposed externally.

The fracture range was wide and had invaded the pulp,

but there was still no inflammatory response.

If the nerve damage had been severe or inflammation had developed over a wide area,

tooth extraction would have been considered,

but since it was still judged that the natural tooth could be preserved,

it is considered possible to improve the condition through root canal treatment.

People often think that once root canal treatment is finished,

a prosthesis can be placed right away.

However, as in the case I showed today, when the crown portion

has been completely lost and broken off,

a separate step may need to be added before placing the prosthesis after root canal treatment. Dangsan-dong Dental Clinic Oral Information What Is Crown Lengthening?

In cases where the crown portion of the tooth has completely fractured, as shown in the photo,

there are limits to placing a prosthesis as it is.

This is because a certain amount of connection must be secured between the prosthesis and the abutment tooth for retention to be stable.

[Crown lengthening] can be applied so that a certain amount of abutment tooth can be secured above the gum line.

This procedure secures the crown portion of the tooth by making an incision in the gums,

and it can be applied when the fractured area is wide, as in this case.

It is also used to improve aesthetics when the original tooth is small, short, and gives a blunt impression.

In the past, surgical incision methods were mainly used,

but because bleeding occurs and the healing period is somewhat long,

lasers are now being actively used.

Using a laser can reduce the amount of bleeding

and significantly shorten the recovery period.

As explained earlier by Dangsan-dong Dental Clinic, after securing a certain amount of abutment tooth for the front tooth crown through the crown lengthening process,

the treatment can be completed by placing a crown.

Some people wonder why this process is necessary

or whether it is being done unnecessarily,

but if sufficient crown structure is not secured,

the likelihood of the prosthesis detaching later increases,

and maintenance becomes more difficult.

That is why it can be said to be an essential step. Dangsan-dong Dental Clinic Oral Information In Closing...

An unexpected accident and the impact it brings

can also cause problems with the teeth.

At times like this, the most important thing is

not to miss the "golden time" and to go to the hospital,

where an accurate diagnosis can be made and appropriate measures taken.

Treatment should focus on preserving the natural tooth,

and

rather than looking only at the current situation,

treatment is needed for long-term stability that reduces the likelihood of future problems.

I hope the information introduced today by Dangsan-dong Dental Clinic was helpful,

and I will end here.

This has been Kim Min-young, a specialist in Conservative Dentistry.

Thank you.