Hemisection in Orange County, Anaheim, Laguna Woods & Mission Viejo | Emergency Dental Care

How to Save Cracked Tooth with Hemisection

Hemisection means ‘dividing in two’. This dental treatment can be used to preserve tooth structure when there is a bone loss or tooth decay between two roots.

With hemisection, it is possible to achieve a fine restorative result in some cases.

Tooth decay is a common oral disorder. It begins by creating a cavity in the tooth enamel. At this stage, your dentist can easily treat the problem with a filling.

You will need to undergo a root canal therapy when tooth decay has damaged the pulp within the tooth root. The purpose of an endodontic therapy is to save as much of the tooth as much possible while removing all of the damaged bone/teeth.

A hemisection is often the best choice for lower molars as they have two roots. If one of the roots is infected or damaged, this surgery can save much of the healthy tooth.

Indications of Tooth Hemisection

Your dentist will suggest a hemisection treatment in any of the following cases (often a result of periodontal disease).

• Dental decay between the roots
• Bone loss
• Tooth affected by carries
• Vertical root fracture

A hemisection surgery is useful when the surviving root can support a restoration crown.

How is Tooth Hemisection Done?

The procedure for a hemisection is straightforward. Your dentist will usually follow these steps.

Identify the problem area
Cut the tooth in half
Remove the damaged bone
Remove damaged crown or root
Fit a restoration crown

During this treatment, your dentist’s top priority is to remove the affected root so that your tooth is left with a healthy root and the crown.

Sometimes when a patient has only one molar root (the other being already removed), your dentist may suggest removing the entire tooth. In such cases, the tooth will be replaced with an implant.

After the Hemisection – Follow-up Procedures and Instructions

When you undergo a hemisection, you may feel mild pain and discomfort for a few days. You might notice some swelling as well and light bleeding.

It’s best to avoid chewing on hard food after the first few days of the surgery. Opt for soft and liquid foods and chew your food on the normal side of your mouth to avoid damage to the newly restored area.

You may not be able to brush your teeth surrounding the surgical area for a few days. You can use a soft Q-tip to clean the area and use a dentist-recommended mouthwash to keep your breath clean.

It’s important to work closely with your dentist until your teeth are fully restored. You may have to re-visit after the surgery so that your doctor can monitor the situation. Once your gums and tooth are healed, the dentist will place a restorative crown in most cases.

The Risks Associated with a Hemisection

Although a hemisection is often the best restorative treatment for those with damaged root, it has some risks associated with it as well.

For example, it will be difficult to clean the tooth after it has been cut in two during the hemisection surgery.

Similarly, the treated tooth will be weaker and more susceptible to damage and fracture in the future. It could often lead to the tooth being extracted.