True vertical tooth root fracture: Case report and review

Abstract

It is important for the clinician not only to gather as much information about a case as possible, but also to be able to correctly interpret the data to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. Occasionally, a case presents with symptoms that might be suggestive of a condition; however, the final diagnosis may be totally different. This paper reports on an interesting case of a true vertical root fracture, in an intact maxillary molar in a 55-year-old man. The case was misdiagnosed and treated as a periodontal defect for over two months. The paper discusses the various causes and diagnostic dilemmas of root fractures.

Keywords

• Misdiagnosis; periodontal defects; vertical root fracture