Our Teeth are the strongest part of our body. Even though they are remarkably strong, they can chip, crack (fracture) or break due to a sudden trauma.Composition of teeth-

Each individual tooth is composed of calcium and various other organic components. It is divided into 3 layers: Enamel, Dentin and Pulp—each layer having a specific role.Enamel is a hard outer protective coating of the teeth.The major part of the tooth is made of Dentin .It is found directly beneath the enamel.The pulp is the innermost layer, it contains the blood vessels and nerve fibres.Dental trauma is a very significant problem especially in the primary Dentition (young children).

Causes of broken or dislodged teeth-:

• Biting down on something hard
• Sports injury
• Blow on the face or mouth
• Falling
• Having cavities that weakens the tooth

Minor tooth fractures usually don’t cause pain, but if a large piece of the tooth breaks off, it can hurt. That’s because the nerve inside the tooth may be damaged. If the broken tooth (remaining in mouth) gets exposed to air, hot/ cold foods or drinks, it can be extremely uncomfortable.

Tooth ache and the jaw pain are common symptoms of dental injuries. Rarely, it may also be associated with bleeding.

Immediate precautions-

If you discover you have dislodged, broken or chipped a tooth, don’t panic. Here are some precautions you should take before you visit the dentist to prevent any further complications-

• If a tooth is completely knocked out, it should be quickly rinsed off with water, but never scrubbed.
• The tooth should be held by the crown (top), not the root, to avoid the damage of the ligaments.
• Put the tooth in a container with milk or salt water solution.
• You can also place the tooth between the cheek and gum line of either the child who lost the tooth or any willing adult. The mouth is the best place for the tooth because it protects the root by keeping it moist and providing protection against bacteria.
• Do not transport the tooth dry. This will cause damage within minutes.
• If the tooth is broken into pieces, Spit out whatever is in your mouth into a napkin. Collect the pieces of the broken tooth and transport them in one of the above suggested solutions.
• Rinse your mouth with warm water.
• To stop any bleeding put the gauze to the site and bite down on it for 10 minutes. The pressure exerted will usually stop the bleeding.
• Relieve pain and reduce swelling by putting a cold compress on your face in the area of the broken tooth.
• Visit a dentist within 30 min after an injury. As anything longer not only reduces the chance of revival of the Tooth, May also increase the chance of infection
• Treatment –

Treatment of broken or a chipped tooth will depend on how severely it is damaged.

If only a small piece of enamel is broken off, the repair is simple and is usually done in a single visit.

For dislodged permanent tooth, the sooner the tooth is put back in the socket (30min), better are the chances of survival of the same tooth.

http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-a-Broken-Tooth
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/broken_or_knocked-out_teeth/page4_em.htm
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tooth-development-in-children-topic-overview
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/repairing-a-chipped-or-broken-tooth
http://www.colgate.com/app/CP/US/EN/OC/Information/Articles/Oral-and-Dental-Health-Basics/Dental-Emergencies/Dental-Emergencies/article/Fractured-and-Broken-Teeth.cvsp
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/broken_or_knocked-out_teeth/page7_em.htm
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tooth-development-in-children-topic-overview