Dental emergencies can be scary, and they never seem to happen at a convenient time. Unfortunately, this is still something that many of us experience over our lifetime. You can chip your tooth by a variety of different means. Whether you chomped down on something a little too hard or took an elbow to the face when playing basketball, you could end up with a dental injury. The good news is that you won’t be left with a broken tooth for the rest of your life. Continue reading to learn more about chipped teeth and what you should do if it happens to you.
What Are the Symptoms of a Chipped Tooth?
Most of the time, it is easy to tell if you have chipped a tooth. The following symptoms may occur:
- Rough, uneven, or jagged edge on the chewing surface of your tooth.
- Tongue irritation from rubbing it against the tooth’s surface.
- Pain when biting down or putting pressure on your tooth.
- Sensitivity to hot and/or cold foods and drinks.
What Should You Do After Chipping Your Tooth?
It’s important that you take action right away if you have a chipped tooth. The sooner you get treatment from your dentist, the better. Here are some steps that you should be taking:
- Find the missing piece of your tooth if you can. Keep it in either saliva or milk as you bring it to the dentist.
- Protect the soft tissues in your mouth from rough or jagged edges with dental wax, a tea bag, or another material.
- If you are experiencing pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
- Only consume soft foods.
- Call your dentist to make an urgent appointment.
How Are Chipped Teeth Treated?
Here are some of the most common ways that chipped teeth are treated:
- Recontouring: If you have a very minor chip, your dentist may be able to repair it by smoothing out the enamel.
- Dental Bonding: For chips that are not causing any damage, but can’t be restored with just recontouring, bonding is a great option. It is an affordable, tooth-colored composite resin that can be molded to the tooth to cover up small imperfections.
- Dental Crown: For a tooth that is more severely fractured, a dental crown is often a viable solution. This will cover up the remaining structure of the tooth to protect it from further damage.
- Veneer: For cosmetic dental issues, like a visible chip on the front tooth, a veneer is a great option. They are made to cover up imperfections on the front surface of the tooth.
- Root Canal: If you have broken your tooth, a root canal may be required to save it. Your dentist will remove the pulp from the center of the tooth, clean it out, and seal it with a biocompatible filling material. It may also be covered with a crown if your dentist deems it necessary.
As stressful as a chipped tooth can be, by seeking help from your dentist, your smile will be good as new in no time!
About the Author
After achieving his Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the Manubhai Patel Dental College in India, Dr. Sujal Patel earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from New York University. He is committed to continuing education to keep his knowledge and skills sharp and is currently a proud member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, Dallas Local Society, and the 17th District Local Society. If you have a chipped tooth, he’d be happy to help. For more information or to schedule an appointment at his office in Dallas, visit his website or call (972) 629-9339.