Dental emergencies can be alarming, and they always seem to happen at the worst times. Teeth can become chipped and broken in various ways. Whether you chomped down on something too hard or took a blow to the face while playing sports, 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?
In most cases, it is easy to tell if you have a chipped tooth. The following signs could occur.
- Rough, uneven, or jagged edge on the chewing surface of the 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 and bring it to the dentist.
- Protect the soft tissues in your mouth from rough or jagged edges with dental wax.
- If you are in 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 addressed.
- Tooth Contouring: If the chip to your tooth is very minor, your dentist may be able to repair it by smoothing down the enamel.
- Dental Bonding: For chips that aren’t causing damage, but can’t be restored with tooth contouring, bonding is an ideal solution. The dentist uses tooth-colored composite resin that can be molded to the tooth to cover small imperfections.
- Dental Crown: For a tooth that has a larger fracture, a dental crown is often a viable solution. This restoration covers 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 acting quickly and calmly, your tooth will be good as new in just a matter of time!
About the Practice
At Collinsville Dental Associates, our team of skilled dentists serve patients in the Collinsville area. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. If you have a chipped tooth, we’d be happy to help. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (276) 647-1494.