Despite the fact that tooth enamel is the toughest tissue in the human body, chipping a tooth is relatively frequent. Whether you chip a visible front tooth or a tooth in the back that you can’t see, you should contact your dentist right once to make an appointment. If a chipped tooth is not repaired, it might lead to more serious problems.
/If you chip a tooth, here’s what you should do.
How to Chip a Tooth in the Most Common Ways
We know that dental enamel is tough, but it isn’t invincible. While there are several methods to harm your teeth, the following are the most common:
–Amalgam fillings that have been in place for a long time may no longer be able to maintain the tooth’s remaining enamel.
–People who grind their teeth at night are more likely to chip them.
–Teeth may be compromised by cavities or decay.
–Taking up difficult tasks (candy, peanut brittle, ice)
–Packages and bottles aren’t designed to be opened with teeth. When teeth are used for reasons other than eating, many individuals chip them.
–Being struck in the mouth or face with a hard object
–When playing contact sports, not wearing a mouthguard is a big no-no.
–Accidents in automobiles
–Falls
When you break a tooth, there are a few things you should do.
Don’t be concerned. Although it might be upsetting when you chip a front tooth that is apparent to others and impacts your smile and look, there is nothing to be scared of. Dentists repair chipped teeth on a regular basis to restore the appearance of damaged teeth.
After you chip, fracture, or break a tooth, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Even if you aren’t in pain or if the break in your tooth isn’t noticeable, do this. The sooner you see a dentist, the more likely you are to avoid losing your tooth or suffering more damage or infection.
Are you in pain? When you chip a tooth, you may have no pain at all, or you may experience discomfort that is sporadic or chronic. Take an over-the-counter pain treatment like ibuprofen or acetaminophen if you’re in discomfort. When you bite down, discomfort might be the sole indicator that you have a break in your tooth. A warm salt-water rinse may help relieve discomfort while reducing the risk of infection and removing food particles. Apply an ice pack to the outside of your cheek where the swelling is if you have it.
Wax your mouth to keep it safe. To prevent your tongue, cheek, and lip from being cut, cover the jagged or sharp edge with a piece of paraffin wax or sugarless gum.
Drink drinks that are at room temperature. Temperature sensitivity may arise if the pulp—the blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue that make up the interior portion of your tooth—is exposed as a result of the injury. Eat only soft foods and avoid biting down on the damaged tooth.
Teeth that have been chipped or broken come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Depending on the kind of chip or break that your tooth has, the dentist will select how to fix it. Chips and cracks are not all handled equally.
Vertical breaks: A vertical break occurs when a fracture in your tooth begins at the root and progresses upward. This sort of break usually causes discomfort and necessitates extraction.
Molars have several roots, resulting in a split tooth. A vertical break separates your tooth into two sections when you have a split-tooth break. After a root canal procedure, if one of the roots is still healthy, a crown will be placed. In certain circumstances, this sort of break necessitates the extraction of a tooth.
Bonding is the primary technique of therapy for obvious front tooth chipping, which involves filling the gap with composite resin.
Breaks caused by decay: If the decay that caused a tooth to crack has progressed to the bone, the dentist will almost certainly suggest that the tooth be removed. A dental implant is one of the most effective techniques to restore your prior smile.
Cusp breaks: The cusps on the top of the teeth are the sharp chewing surfaces. These may chip, resulting in alignment problems or sharp edges. The dentist may just need to file down the sharp edges in certain circumstances, but in others, a crown will be advised.
Treatments for Chipped Tooth
To identify the best treatment option for your chipped tooth, your dentist will need to inspect it. The advice is given according to the kind and degree of the break. The following are some of the most common treatments for a fractured tooth.
Fillings or dental bonding
When a fracture merely affects the tooth’s white surface, a fast polish may be all that’s required to smooth off the rough edge. If the chip is a little more serious but still modest, a filling or bonding is one of the most typical procedures to heal your teeth. Bonding is a straightforward operation that includes the use of a tooth-colored composite resin and may typically be done without anaesthesia.
To help the resin bind, your dentist will first etch the tooth’s surface using a gel or liquid solution. The resin will next be adhered to the tooth using adhesive material. The dentist will mould the resin to resemble a genuine tooth before hardening it using ultraviolet radiation. With appropriate maintenance, bonding should last a decade or more.
Veneers
A fake nail is similar to a veneer in that it covers the front of the tooth with a very thin porcelain laminate or resin composite, but it lasts far longer. The application of a veneer produces a smooth, natural appearance. Veneers can aid in the restoration of the colour and contour of a damaged tooth.
Crown on a tooth
When the damage to the tooth is more severe, dental crowns—basically a tooth-shaped covering that covers the whole tooth—are employed. Crowns are usually constructed of resin or porcelain and will blend in with the rest of your teeth. This operation usually requires two visits to the dentist’s office. The dentist will examine X-rays of your mouth to determine the health of your root structure. The dentist will next grind away a portion of the tooth to make room for the crown. Following that, an imprint will be taken to verify that the new crown fits correctly, aligns with the other teeth, and maintains a healthy bite. While some dentist offices may build a permanent crown while you wait, the majority of crowns are made by outside laboratories. In this situation, a temporary acrylic crown will be placed to allow you to eat and speak normally for the next two weeks while your permanent crown is being fitted. After that, you’ll go back to the dentist to have your crown fixed in place.
Root Canal Treatment
Infection might arise when the trauma that damaged your tooth also damaged the pulp of the tooth. A root canal treatment will be required if this occurs. If your tooth is sensitive to heat, aches, or changes colour, you may need a root canal treatment. A root canal treatment is performed by dentists or specialists known as endodontists, and it entails removing the dead or damaged inner tissues of the tooth. Despite its bad notoriety, today’s new and better root canal procedures are typically no more painful than having a cavity filled.
It’s important to remember that if you chip or damage a tooth, you shouldn’t worry. Instead, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Allowing the dentist to inspect and take an X-ray to establish the condition of the root structure is the first step in repairing a damaged tooth. After the examination, the dentist will have a clearer idea of how to proceed in your case.
We at Family Dental are excited to assist you in repairing a chipped tooth as well as taking care of all of your preventive and emergency dental needs throughout the year. Alternatively, you may book an appointment for consultation from any dental clinic penang.
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