Crown Fracture: Enamel
Baby Teeth and Dental Trauma
In this section, we will cover:
- What is an enamel (crown) fracture?
- Will I need treatment?
- What can I do to help the area heal at home?
- Will I need any follow up appointments?
- What should I look out for?
- What are the long term complications?
What is an enamel (crown) fracture?
This is an injury in which only the outer layer of the tooth (enamel) has fractured. You may have heard this referred to as a "chipped tooth".
For information on first aid after dental trauma to baby teeth, see here.
Will I need treatment?
Baby teeth with an enamel fracture do not normally need any treatment. If there are any sharp or rough edges, they can be smoothed down by the dentist.
If there are any injuries to the soft tissue, you can see here for more information.
What can I do to help the area heal at home?
To help the area heal at home, you should:
- Brush the teeth after every meal with a soft toothbrush
- Gently brush the injured area to prevent build up of plaque
- Use a cotton swab/handkerchief moistened in salt water or alcohol-free chlorhexidine mouthwash (Corsodyl) to clean the gum twice a day for 1 week
- Have a soft diet for the first few days
- Take medicine to help manage any discomfort (ibuprofen or paracetamol)
- Avoid contact sports
Will I need any follow up appointments?
No follow up appointments are needed specifically for the trauma but you should continue to see your dentist on a regular basis for a routine dental check up.
What should I look out for?
The long term consequences of dental trauma are unpredictable. You should monitor your child's teeth for any signs of infection.
Favourable outcome
- No pain
- Normal colour of the tooth
- Temporary darkening of the tooth to red/grey/yellow
Unfavourable outcome
- Pain
- Abscess on the gum
- Increased mobility (but this can be normal as the adult tooth starts to come through)
- Permanent grey/brown discolouration of the tooth
What are the long term complications?
In most cases, there will be no long term complications following an enamel fracture.
If the baby tooth becomes painful or infected, it will need to be removed (see dental extraction). There will be a gap here until the adult tooth erupts at around 6-7 years old.
Treatment can be done under local anaesthetic, inhalation sedation or general anaesthetic depending on the age and cooperation of your child.