An incomplete crack of enamel is diagnosed. What is the recommended treatment?

Prepare for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Oral Boards. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations to ace your exam!

When a crack is confined to the enamel and a fragment of the tooth is available, the best management is to reattach the fragment and restore the tooth surface with smoothing and contouring. Reattachment preserves as much natural tooth structure as possible, maintains proper contour and occlusion, and provides the most esthetic and functionally sound result. Bonding the fragment creates a seamless restoration that resists future fracture and reduces rough margins where plaque can collect.

Extracting the tooth and placing a prosthesis is overly aggressive for a superficial enamel crack. Performing a pulpotomy is unnecessary because the pulp is not involved in an enamel-only crack. Monitoring without treatment risks progression if the crack propagates or causes sensitivity or aesthetic concerns, whereas reattachment directly addresses the defect and stabilizes the tooth.