What Should I Do About Chipped Tooth?
Chipped teeth are a common dental issue that can happen to anyone, adults or children. But because they are common, a number of advances in treatment have occurred in recent years. If you have a chipped tooth, your dentist can repair it so that it is virtually impossible for you or anyone else to detect whether a chip ever existed.
Common reasons for chipped teeth are many, including a fall or other accident, tooth decay, biting hard foods, poor nutrition, grinding or clenching (bruxism), and sports injuries.
How Concerned Should I Be About a Chipped Tooth?
Having a chipped tooth is not necessarily a dental emergency, but it is cause for concern and should be examined by your dentist as soon as possible after you discover it. A chipped tooth is the result of damaged enamel. A chip that has advanced to the point where it is a large crack can expose the pulp, called dentin, under your tooth enamel, as well as the tooth nerve. You will likely experience pain and should seek prompt treatment.
Left untreated, chipped teeth can lead to sensitivity and pain. Worse than that, if your tooth is broken, the nerve is not well protected from bacteria in your mouth, which increases your risk of infection.
Whether your tooth is chipped, cracked, or broken (which typically means a large piece of your tooth is missing), see your dentist right away to determine the severity of your issue. The scope of the damage to your chipped tooth determines how your dentist will proceed with treatment, as described below.
Treatment Options for Chipped Teeth
Small chips in teeth, or issues not large enough to damage the sensitive pulp beneath your tooth enamel, are typically treated with polishing to smooth rough or jagged edges.
Or your dentist will select a tooth-colored filling that will blend with the rest of your teeth, especially if the chipped tooth is one of your front teeth.
Other options are bonding, where your dentist applies material to the surface of your tooth that helps maintain its structure and appearance.
Veneers are a thin porcelain or plastic shell custom-made to fit over the front of your tooth. Porcelain veneers are a better choice because they look more like natural teeth, and porcelain is more resistant to stains and discoloration.
Gold crowns are used for teeth that are too damaged for fillings or bonding. Crowns restore the shape and function of badly chipped, cracked, or eroded teeth. For visible teeth, the gold is coated with porcelain and color-matched to blend naturally with your other teeth.
Root canal treatment may be necessary for advanced cavities, severe breaks, or tooth infection.
For larger chips in teeth, seek prompt treatment from your dentist to avoid further damage to your tooth enamel and possible infection. Issues that are large enough to cause damage beneath your tooth enamel can mean risk to the health of your tooth and possible tooth loss.
In some instances, if the chip in your tooth extends below your gums, unfortunately, the only viable option is tooth extraction. Your dentist will do everything possible to save a tooth, but in some instances, leaving a badly damaged tooth in your mouth can be worse than removing it. Be sure you discuss in depth with your dentist the options that are available to you.
See Your Dentist ASAP for Chipped Teeth
Exposure of even a very small amount of tooth pulp, or dentin, can lead to infection. See your dentist as soon as possible if you find a chipped tooth. This will help you avoid pain and the uncertainty an infected tooth can bring.