Fractured Tooth in Children
Types and treatment of broken teeth in pediatric dental emergencies.
Tooth fractures in children are classified by severity. Enamel infractions (craze lines) require monitoring only. Enamel fractures (chipped enamel) need smoothing or composite bonding. Enamel-dentin fractures expose the yellow dentin layer and require composite restoration. Crown fractures with pulp exposure (pink/red dot visible) require immediate treatment — pulp capping or pulpotomy. Root fractures are diagnosed by X-ray and treated based on location: cervical (near gum) fractures have poor prognosis, middle-third fractures may heal with splinting, and apical (near root tip) fractures often heal spontaneously. For all dental fractures, save any broken tooth fragments — they can sometimes be bonded back. Apply cold compress for swelling and seek dental care within 24 hours (immediately for pulp-exposed fractures).