Types of Broken or Cracked Teeth

• Craze lines
  Also called minor cracks, these are cracks that affect the enamel, which is the outer white surface of the tooth. Often times, they are shallow and cause no pain. And dentist may need only to polish the area to smooth out the rough spots.
• Chips
  Minor chips will don’t usually require treatment either. They don’t cause pain, so chips are not a cause for concern other than they way that they look.
• Cracked tooth
  The fracture affects the whole tooth, from the enamel to the nerve. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial for saving the tooth. Without treatment, the crack gradually spreads and worsens beyond repair.
• Serious Breaks
  This type of break almost always causes tooth sensitivity and aches because it’s deep enough to expose the nerve. Often times, The broken part of the tooth will bleed.
• Split Tooth
  This type of break occurs when the tooth has split vertically into separate parts. This is often the result of a long-term cracked tooth.
• Broken Cusp
  This occurs when the cusped, pointed chewing surfaces of teeth are broken. A broken cusp doesn't always cause much pain because it doesn’t affect the pulp.
• Decay-induced Break
  When a cavity weakens a tooth from the inside out, it can lead to a broken tooth.
• Vertical Root Fracture
  These cracks begin at the root of the tooth and extend up towards the chewing surface. If they become infected, the area around the root will be inflamed and cause pain.

What You Can Do

As soon as your have a broken or fractured tooth, you should see your dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, WebMD recommends a few things you can do to relieve the pain and reduce swelling:

• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like acetaminophen.
• To prevent a sharp or jagged edge from cutting your tongue or mouth, cover the broken tooth with a piece of wax paraffin or sugar-free chewing gum.
• If you need to eat, stick to soft foods and avoid using your broken tooth to chew.