title: Vertical root fracture: prevalence, etiology, and diagnosis.
abstract: A vertical root fracture (VRF) is a frustrating complication that may occur following root canal treatment, and in almost every case leads to the extraction of the affected tooth. This type of fracture is usually diagnosed by secondary symptoms that develop some time after primary treatment, often when prosthodontic restoration has already been completed. The fracture line itself is often not directly visible, and therefore clinical and radiographic signs and symptoms indicate the diagnosis indirectly. Knowledge of the condition and pathogenesis of VRF is required in order to avoid hopeless trials of periodontal and/or endodontic therapy. Several etiologic factors are discussed that make teeth susceptible to VRF, such as the loss of substance due to restorative and endodontic therapy and stress factors associated with root canal debridement, and filling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restoratiive Dentistry, University of Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany. haueisen@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haueisen
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gärtner
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trohorsch
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heidemann
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000293:injuries*; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000009:adverse effects; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003804:Dentin / Q000293:injuries; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000293:injuries*; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000150:complications