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Vertical Root Tip Fractures

Vertical root tip fractures mostly occur in teeth that have had root canals and are most frequently seen when you have a post on the tooth. Once the nerve is dead, the vital fluids are no longer supplied to the tooth and it becomes brittle and can more easily fracture. The stress on the post can help force the fracture down vertically.

A root canal can cause the fracture to occur over time because the tooth is weakened. An endodontist can tell if a root fracture is present. Sometimes fractures are hard to spot, though, so it's not the easiest condition to spot. Once fractured the tooth is most probably lost. If the tooth becomes infected you need to get the infection treated as quickly as possible. An infected root canal can cause all sorts of health problems.

See this article on root canals