What To Do When Your Child’s Tooth Cracks

Responding to dental emergencies and knowing what to do is vital for parents. An important part of first aid is knowing the correct procedures to use if a child gets injured. This is especially true for dental issues. Dental emergencies can be extremely painful your child and can have lasting effects if not handled by a local dentist immediately. In this article, we will be going over cracked teeth, their causes, and the correct procedures.

What Causes a Tooth to Crack

A tooth can crack for a variety of reasons. Athletic injuries, teeth grinding, and eating certain foods can all cause a tooth to crack. Oversized cavity fillings can also cause teeth to crack, this is why it is important to prevent cavities. Cracked teeth are a leading cause of tooth loss in America. It is important that little children do not chew on hard things when their baby teeth come in as it could cause their teeth to crack. Children who grind their teeth at night may need to wear a grind guard to prevent extra pressure from being put on their teeth. A dentist can notice signs of teeth grinding during a regular cleaning procedure and will be able to advise you on proper prevention methods.

Types of Cracked Teeth

There are actually a variety of ways a tooth can crack. Each type has different required steps that will inform how you take care of your child.

• Craze Lines: A craze line is a small crack on the surface of the tooth enamel. It requires no immediate attention as the tooth is still intact underneath the enamel.
• Fractured Cusp: This type is most common when a tooth has a filling. The crack happens on the outer layers of the tooth and causes little pain since it does not affect the tooth pulp (the area where all of the nerves and tissue is inside the tooth).
• Partial Cracks Near The Gumline: If your son or daughter has a crack in their teeth that goes vertically towards the gumline but doesn’t reach the gumline the tooth is possibly savable. A dentist can help address the problem if the child is taken promptly.
• Complete Crack: If a vertical crack goes past the gumline, the tooth is most likely broken into multiple pieces. It is unlikely that a dentist will be able to save the entire tooth, but part of the tooth may still be saved.
• Vertical Root Crack: If the crack starts at the gum line and does not extend to the end of the tooth this is a sign of a cracked root. It may not present any immediate symptoms but it could lead to infection. In these cases, the tooth will need to be removed.

Contact All Star Dental for Pediatric Dental Services

At All Star Dental we are here to help. From a normal cleaning to a specific procedure, if your kid needs dental help, give us a call.