Infractions
What is an infringement?
An infraction means the same as an incomplete fracture or cracking. Infractions most often occur in teeth with large amalgam fillings. Many people have infractions in several teeth without being bothered by them, while others, on the other hand, can have major problems from teeth with infractions.
How do infringements occur?
In teeth with large fillings, the tooth substance around the filling is weakened. When you chew, thin cracks can eventually develop in the tooth. These cracks develop under the filling and usually run at an angle away from the dental nerve (fig. 1). However, the fracture can also extend to the nerve (fig. 2) or even split the tooth in two (fig. 3).
- Figur I
- Figur II
- Figur III
If you rub or squeeze your teeth, for example at night when you’re asleep, your teeth will be exposed to great forces. Infractions can then become larger and you may also experience cracking in teeth without fillings. Note that fractures can also occur or be “activated” after plastic fillings are placed in teeth. Such fillings contract when they harden and can cause tension in the tooth.
Symptoms:
The most common symptom of dental infractions is pain when chewing. The pain is often described as a sharp sensation in the tooth when chewing on something hard. In many cases, you may also experience pain when you “release” your bite. Typically, the pain is short-lived and disappears shortly after the strain ceases. Often, the tooth will also react to cold and possibly to hot.
Diagnosis at the dentist:
Infractions do not show on X-rays. A clinical examination must therefore be carried out to localize the infraction. It can often be found by the patient biting down on a plastic “bite stick”. It will then be possible to trigger a fire in the tooth when you bite down on the “right” place. At other times, it may be necessary to remove the fillings in the tooth in order to see the cracks directly. From time to time, however, it is not possible to determine with certainty where the infraction is.
Treatment of teeth with infractions:
Treatment of teeth with infractions depends on several factors. Consideration must be given to the number of infractions in the tooth, how the infractions progress and the degree of discomfort from the tooth. Filling:
In simple cases, you can remove old fillings in the tooth, then remove the part of the tooth affected by the infraction and then rebuild with a plastic filling.
Crown:
If there are several infractions or if they go deeper, it is often best to cover the tooth with a crown. This will have a stabilizing effect on the tooth and prevent larger pieces from breaking off. Root canal filling:
If the infraction causes bacteria to infect the dental nerve, it will be necessary to root fill the tooth before it is restored. In many cases, it will then be necessary to restore the tooth with a crown. Extract the tooth:
In cases where the cracking splits the tooth in two, it may be necessary to extract the tooth. Postpone dental treatment:
If it is not possible to identify the source of the problem, it may be necessary to postpone treatment until the symptoms become clearer.
Forecast:
It is not always the case that treating a tooth with infractions is successful in the first instance. If the symptoms continue after the tooth has been repaired with a filling or crown, a root canal may be necessary to solve the problem. In the worst case, it may be necessary to remove the tooth. This depends on the location, depth and course of the crack. In other words, when you start treating a tooth with infractions, it is not always possible to say where the treatment will end up.