NS-15 Cracks in Crowns and Roots: Saturday Afternoon Enlightenment! (or Not!)
CE Hours: 1.5
Description: I have been looking and collecting information about both cracked teeth and vertical root fractures for over 40 years of practice. I treated over 3,000 patients with cracked teeth and over 1,100 patients with vertical root fractures. I will be sharing what I have learned over the past 40+ years. There seems to be greater optimism than pessimism as we look at the literature! I will discuss definitions, diagnosis, radiographic features, treatment and prognosis/outcomes. Come keep me company on a Saturday afternoon!
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the most recent definitions used for longitudinal fractures of teeth.
- Describe the radiographic features of both cracked teeth and vertical root fractures.
- Discuss prognosis for cracked teeth requiring root canal treatment using the Iowa Staging Index.
Key:
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LockedKeith V. Krell, D.D.S., M.S., M.A.
Dr. Krell has been an endodontist for 44 years. He was a full time educator for 8 years at the University of Iowa and was in private practice in West Des Moines, Iowa for 29 years until he retired December 31,2017. In 1993, he retired from the United States Army National Guard as a lieutenant colonel after 22 years of service. He was also an adjunct clinical Professor in the department of Endodontics at the University of Iowa, College of Dentistry until July 1, 2025 completing a 50 year career with the University of Iowa. He received the University of Iowa, Distinguished Service Alumni Award Sept 26, 2025. He is a past president of the American Association of Endodontist, and also a past president of both, the American Board of Endodontics and the Foundation for Endodontics. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics and is a both a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and in the International College of Dentists.
Dr. Krell has been married for 54 years to Diane and they have two grown children, and five grandchildren. He still has research interests in cracked teeth and vertical root fractures and has provided continuing education nationally and internationally for the past 40 years. He has played guitar for more than 50 years and has collected guitars for the past 30 years.
Disclosure:
I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation.