Cracked Tooth Case: Popcorn Injury

How you use your teeth helps determine whether or not they will crack. This tooth broke in half (vertical fracture) when the patient bit down hard on a popcorn kernel. Note that it had never been decayed or restored, demonstrating that it isn’t just teeth with fillings or those that have had endodontic (root canal) treatment that are susceptible to cracking. This tooth required extensive procedures to be saved, including crown lengthening surgery, a pin-retained core buildup, and a crown. This patient was lucky in one respect. Frequently a tooth injury this extensive would have necessitated another significant procedure—endodontic (root canal) therapy. It is possible the tooth will require endodontic treatment in the future. Options may have included removal of the tooth and replacement with a fixed bridge or implant.