There are various types of fractures that may occur as part of a dental emergency. Fractures may involve the tooth’s crown, root or both. In some cases, the pulp may be damaged. This type of damage is most likely to cause pain.

Each type of fracture requires a slightly different form of treatment. Patients who experience a fracture can rinse their mouths with warm water and to apply an ice pack to the outside of the mouth in the area of damage to reduce any swelling. Patients should see a dentist as soon as possible.

Treatment by a dentist will vary depending on the type of fracture that occurs. Fracture types include:

• Minor crack. Also known as a “craze line,” this type of damage affects only the outer layer of the tooth (enamel) and causes no pain. In most cases, no treatment is required. However, light polishing can smooth out rough spots.
  
  
• Chip. A chipped tooth usually does not require extensive treatment. A dentist may suggest using filling material to repair the tooth. This helps to keep the chip from getting worse and improves the tooth’s cosmetic appearance. Very small chips may merely need to be sanded to smooth away any rough edges.
  
  
• Cusp fracture. Damage that affects the pointed chewing surfaces of a tooth can adversely affect a patient’s ability to chew. Such damage usually is fixed by rebuilding the damaged area to restore the tooth’s shape. Onlays and crowns are often used to repair a cusp fracture.
  

  

• Serious fracture. This damage typically exposes nerve tissue, causing bleeding and pain. A root canal treatment is usually necessary to remove the nerve in the tooth. Once this procedure is complete, a crown will be used to cover the tooth.
  
  
• Cracked tooth. Damage that begins on the chewing surface and extends all the way down to the nerve. The tooth does not break in two, but the crack itself remains in danger of spreading. Filling material can be used to repair some cracks. However, in many cases a crown or root canal treatment is required.
  
  
• Split tooth. Occurs when a cracked tooth actually splits into two separate parts. In most cases, the tooth must be extracted. Sometimes, a split tooth may be treated with a root canal treatment (if the pulp is damaged) and a crown used to cover and protect the tooth.
  
  
• Vertical tooth fractures (split root). Damage that begins in the tooth root and spreads upward to the chewing surface. This type of fracture is often very painful due to inflammation or infection of the tissues surrounding the root. In most cases, the tooth must be extracted.
  
  
• Decay-induced fracture. Fracture of the tooth resulting from a cavity that weakens the tooth from the inside out. Treatment for a decay-induced fracture varies on a case-by-case basis and can best be determined by a dentist who examines the damage.