Vertical root fracture

Vertical root fracture is different from other longitudinal tooth fractures in two main aspects: it starts in the root, and it is usually bucco-lingual in direction.
Vertical root fracture can beging at any level in the root, and it can occur both in vital and root filled teeth. Unlike cracked tooth and split tooth, all teeth can be affected by vertical root fracture.

Vertical root fracture is often symptomfree at the beginning, but the symptoms are generally quite variable. When extending coronally to the gingival pocket area, a deep, narrow pocket soon developes. This is often a good diagnostic sign of a vertical root fracture, particularly in patients who otherwise do not have a periodontal problem. Vertical root fractures are often visible in the radiograph, other typical radiographic signs are broad periodontal pockets in the affected teeth and pear shaped periapical lesions which grow coronally. There is no treatment available to vertical root fracture.