My Child Has A Chipped Tooth- What’s Next?

As much as we want to keep our children free from injuries and pain, it is impossible for us to prevent them from avoiding every mishap and accident. When your child falls from a stairway only to stand up with a broken tooth, knowing what to do next is very important. When a dental accident occurs in this manner, it often happens on the front teeth – where everyone can see. A kids dental emergency ranges from a level 1 to level 4 chipped or broken tooth per Dr. Sheryl Radin , an acclaimed kids dentist in central Bucks . The teeth are made up of extremely strong substances that can actually sustain a lot of force but when a sharp, concentrated force strikes in one, specific spot, it can cause a tooth to fracture. When disregarded, a broken tooth can cause serious pain and make your child uncomfortable with his tooth’s appearance; lowering his self-esteem and confidence. What are the classifications of a tooth fracture? Dr. Radin, who we consulted for this article, classifies tooth fractures based on its location and the intensity of the damage:

1. Level 1 – fractures evident in the outer enamel layer of the tooth
2. Level 2 – fractures into the dentin layer
3. Level 3 – fractures into the tooth’s pulp
4. Level 4 – fractures onto the root

A level 1 fracture may look ugly on the surface but at least they aren’t as painful as deeper fractures. Small chippings can easily be mended by a dentist for kid by smoothing off its edges. Specialized dental materials can fill in the indentations of the chipped tooth with precision and care. For bigger chips, pediatric dentists will apply composite filling or bonding glue to fix a chipped tooth in kids. Level 2 fractures penetrate the dentin layer. Pediatric patients often complain of sensitivity to cold water or air. We also consulted a pediatric dentist in Trenton and she claimed to add composite restoration material to coat the damaged dentin before repairing the enamel. Larger level 2 fractures may require a crown or porcelain facing for fixing a broken tooth in kids. Although some pediatric dentists would recommend letting the fracture heal naturally without applying too much composite material. Level 3 fractures can be a more dangerous as most children will need immediate medical attention to prevent bacterial infection of the exposed pulp. In adult dentistry, a root canal would be the advised path to follow. Younger teeth tend to have greater blood circulation to the pulp than adults. Speaking with a kids dentist in Pennington they stressed the importance of creating a protective seal of the fractured tooth to minimize the chance of infection. Level 4 fractures are considered the most extreme tooth fracture a child could ever encounter. The damage goes right onto the root where it could be very difficult to save the tooth. When a kids dental emergency in Bucks County reaches a level three or four fracture, finding a dentist for kids in Yardley or kids dentist in Pennington NJ to treat the fracture can be a challenge if you do not already have a relationship with any pediatric dentists in the region. Dr. Sheryl Radin for example generally works with established patients in cases of an emergency.