Diagnosing and Managing the Cracked Tooth Part 2: Vertical Root Fractures

Diagnosing and Managing the Cracked Tooth Part 2: Vertical Root Fractures is organized by MetLife. 

Originally published: April 2017
Expiration date: March 2023

Course Description:
Symptoms of a Vertical Root Fracture (VRF) are often lacking or mild in nature, complicating its diagnosis and management. In addition, the clinical presentation of a VRF can be confused with other dental conditions and lead to misdiagnosis. This QRG describes the clinical and radiographic aspects of a VRF and discusses the management of these dental problems. It provides an evidence-based discussion of the VRF, including characteristics, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis. A section also discusses appropriate methods of communicating with the patient through the sometimes very difficult processes of determining a diagnosis and selecting a treatment option. Multiple well-documented clinical cases are presented to demonstrate the descriptions and findings discussed in the narrative. The QRG is an important reference for the clinician assessing a patient presenting “soreness” in a tooth, that is difficult to differentiate. It also provides background information for the dental office team to answer patients’ questions regarding a potential VRF and the options they face regarding therapy.

Educational Objectives:
Following this unit of instruction, the learner should be able to:
• Differentiate vertical root fractures from other dental fractures.
• Recognize the usual symptoms of vertical root fractures.
• Describe methods for diagnosing vertical root fractures.
• Recognize the risk factors associated with vertical root fractures.
• Describe treatment options for vertical root fractures.
• Evaluate the prognoses for vertical root fractures.