title: Consequences of posterior cusp fracture.
abstract: Although posterior cusp fracture occurs frequently, its consequences are not well-delineated. This study recorded short-term outcomes (distribution of fractured teeth and cusps, fracture severity, and treatment received up to two years postfracture) for 517 fractured teeth from 498 subjects at a large group practice. Maxillary and mandibular tooth fractures occurred with similar frequency. In the maxillary arch, first and second molars and premolars fractured with roughly the same frequency; premolar fractures were more severe. In the mandible, first molars accounted for approximately 50% of all fractures and were most likely to be severe fractures. Nonholding cusps were more likely to fracture in both arches. Proportions of fractured teeth receiving "catastrophic" treatment were low (3% extraction; 4% endodontic treatment) and the large majority of fractured teeth were treated in a single visit using direct restorative materials. A knowledge of the relatively small proportions of fractured teeth that suffer serious consequences and the tooth-specific distributions of cusp fracture should help dentists and patients to make informed decisions regarding preventive restorative intervention prior to fracture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Shugars
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sturdevant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000293:injuries; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003764:Dental Materials; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000628:therapy; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003804:Dentin / Q000293:injuries; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000293:injuries; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000293:injuries*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000293:injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003764:Dental Materials